55th  Congress, 
2d  Session. 


SENATE. 


(  Document 
\    No.  190. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YOEK  INDIANS. 


March  15,  1898. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  and  ordered  to  be 

printed. 


Mr.  Quay  presented  the  following 

PETITION  OF  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK 
INDIANS  FAVORING  LEGISLATION  PROVIDING  FOR  THE  DIS- 
TRIBUTION OF  MONEYS  RECEIVED  FROM  LEASES  OF  LANDS 
OF  THE  TRIBE. 


The  undersigned  male  and  female  members,  legal  age,  of  the  Seneca 
Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  in  favor  of  the  resolution  adopted  in 
convention  at  Newtown,  on  the  Cattaraugus  Eeservation,  the  28th  day 
of  October,  1897. 

That  an  amendment  be  made  to  the  act  of  the  United  States  Congress, 
the  same  approved  February  19, 1875,  entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the 
Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  lease  lands,  etc.,"  to  the  effect 
as  follows : 

That  all  rentals  from  the  Indian  leases  in  the  villages  on  the  Alle- 
gany Eeservation,  and  the  proceeds  of  any  and  all  oil  wells,  and  all 
oils  which  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  may  be  entitled  to  receive,  the 
same  be  paid  directly  to  the  United  States  Indian  agent. 

That  the  sum  not  to  exceed  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year, 
out  of  the  funds  so  collected,  be  set  aside  and  delivered  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  for  the  disbursements  of  council  of 
said  nation,  and  all  funds  remaining  be  distributed  among  the  members 
of  said  nation  per  capita  by  said  agent. 

Dated  November  9,  1897 

Jerome  (his  x  mark)  Kennedy. 
Chas.  Tallchief. 
Frank  Tallchief. 
N.  C.  Patterson. 
Harrison  (his  x  mark)  Crouse. 
Eliza  Stevens. 

Levi  (his  x  mark)  Kenjackety. 
Galy  Parker. 
Julia  Crow. 
Emma  Deer. 
William  Deer. 
Anna  Deer. 
Mary  Kenjockety. 
Hattie  Jonthon. 
Laura  Ground. 
Truman  Halftown. 
Nancy  Halftown. 
Julia  Jonas. 
Tillmon  Jackson. 


Augustus  Jemison. 

Lydia  Harris. 

Nancy  Button. 

Franklin  Kennedy. 

Ely  S.  Pierce. 

John  Jonas,  esq. 

Sarah  John. 

James  H.  Halftown. 

James  Cornplanter. 

Theodore  Jimeson. 

Lafayette  White. 

Mary  Harnlock. 

Cornelius  Johnny  John. 

Hattie  C.  Jackson. 

Lewis  (his  x  mark)  Jameson. 

Nancy  (her  x  mark)  Halftown. 

Lucinda  Moses. 

Nancy  Tallchief. 

Moses  Thomson. 


2 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


Peter  Pierce. 
Minerva  Turkey. 
Jane  Turkey. 
Mary  E.  Waterman. 
Lydia  Warrior. 
Eliza  Mohawk. 

Howard  (his  x  mark)  Armstrong. 

Sarah  Jameson. 

Ida  Johnny  John. 

Lucinda  Johnny  John. 

Johnson  Halftown. 

Mrs.  James  King. 

Susan  King. 

Chauucy  Green. 

Sylvester  Pierce. 

Newton  (his  x  mark)  Kennedy. 

Mary  Jamison. 

Emma  White. 

Walter  S.  Kennedy. 

James  White. 

C.  S.  York. 

Albert  Bluesky. 

Jennie  (her  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

David  (his  x  mark)  Stevens. 

Thomas  Els. 

Myron  H.  Silverheels. 

First  Andrew  Jackson. 

Willie  Brooks. 

William  Jacobs. 

Robert  Kennedy. 

Albert  Sundown. 

Mary  Kennedy. 

Rose  H.  Steeprock. 

Louisa  (her  x  mark)  Armstrong. 

Sarah  (her  x  mark)  Scott. 

Mary  J.  (her  x  mark)  Plummer. 

Wm.  Nephew. 

Ida  (her  x  mark)  Farmer. 

Lewis  Deer. 

Annie  Scott. 

William  (his  x  mark)  Blueye. 
Jack  (his  x  mark)  Thomas. 
James  (his  x  mark)  Wilson. 
Charley  Thompson. 
Joseph  (his  x  mark)  Smith. 
James  (his  x  mark)  Thomas. 
Crawford  Nephew. 
Nancy  (her  x  mark)  Logan. 
Olive  Logan. 

Rufus  (his  x  mark)  Jacob. 
Jacob  (his  x  mark)  Scott. 
Junietta  Spring. 
Ella  King. 

Foster  (his  x  mark)  Turkey. 

John  (his  x  mark)  Jake. 

Jessie  (his  x  mark)  Johnson. 

Anton  (his  x  mark)  Snow. 

Ira  Pierce. 

Silas  Snow. 

Tip  Thompson. 

King  Scott. 

Louisa  Longfinger. 

Elizta  Johuson. 

Samuel  (his  x  mark)  Joe. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Twogun. 

Lester  Bishop. 

Nancy  Warrior. 

James  King. 

James  (his  x  mark)  Crow. 
Cyrus  Spruce. 


Mary  (her  x  mark)  Turkey. 
Mary  (her  x  mark)  Tommy. 
Lucina  Lewis. 

Richard  (his  x  mark)  Jackson. 

Lucuda  (her  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Lewis  Jonas. 

Agnes  Williams. 

Louisa  (her  x  mark)  Joe. 

John  White. 

Sezphus  (his  x  mark)  Twogun. 

Lewis  (his  x  mark)  Thomson. 

Jessie  (his  x  mark)  Kenjockety. 

Simson  (his  x  mark)  Joe. 

Jessie  (his  x  mark)  Joe. 

William  John. 

Daniel  Doxtator. 

Elizabeth  Warrior. 

Ida  Jimersen. 

Lewis  Pierce. 

David  Warrior,  jr. 

Henry  Kenjockety. 

Nancy  Williams. 

Julia  (her  x  mark)  Twogun. 

Moses  Cooper. 

Moses  Mohawk. 

Orin  Mohawk. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Moses. 

Emily  (her  x  mark)  Denis. 

Hiram  Hare. 

William  Mohawk. 

Oakley  Pinn. 

Thomas  Kennedy. 

John  I.  Jimeson. 

Joslvn  (his  x  mark)  Warrior. 

David  White. 

Nicholas  Jimeson. 

Abbie  Doxtator. 

Minnie  John. 

Lewis  (his  x  mark)  Longfinger. 

Mrs.  Mary  Bishop. 

A.  Bishop. 

Leroy  Snider. 

George  Doxtator. 

Nancy  York. 

Charles  F.  Wilson. 

Lynn  Crouse  (not  of  age). 

Clarence  Snyder. 

Laura  Seneca. 

Orlando  Doxtader. 

Mrs.  Lucinda  Lay. 

S.  C.  Lay. 

Alice  Seneca. 

Newton  Bennett. 

Sophia  Snyder. 

Willie  Jones. 

George  Crouse. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Warrior. 

Chester  (his  x  mark)  Tallchief. 

Solomon  (his  x  mark)  O'Bail. 

Emily  Tallchief. 

Widow  Andrew  (her  x  mark)  John. 

Rosa  John. 

Andrew  John. 

Chas.  A.  Logan. 

Jerome  Crouse. 

Martin  Crouse. 

John  (his  x  mark)  Jonathan. 

Howard  Doxtader. 

Windsor  H.  Pierce. 

Benjamin  (his  x  mark)  Half  white. 


SENECA  NATION 


OF 


NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


Charles  (his  x  mark)  Abram. 

George  Jacobs. 

Jones  (his  x  mark)  Titus. 

Isreal  (his  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

George  Patterson. 

Howard  Logan. 

Ames  Kittsbeck. 

Wm.  Van  Arnum. 

Elmer  Skonger. 

Willie  Cooper. 

Lewis  (his  x  mark)  Twogun. 

Wesley  (his  x  mark)  White. 

Lucy  (her  x  mark)  Logan. 

Jake  Logan. 

Mary  Abram. 

Healy  Jimeson. 

William  (his  x  mark)  Warrior. 
Betsy  (her  x  mark)  Warrior. 
Amos  Moses. 

David  (his  x  mark)  Patterson. 

Phina  M.  Jameison. 

Willett  P.  Jimeson. 

Frank  F.  Dockstader. 

Bertha  Dockstader. 

Carrie  (her  x  mark)  Armstrong. 

Mrs.  Sarah  (her  x  mark)  Dockstader. 

Sarah  (her  x  mark)  Jane  Jimeson. 

William  B.  Dockstader. 

Walter  L.  Jimeson  (not  of  age). 

Jesse  Armstrong. 

Square  (his  x  mark)  Jacob. 

Joseph  (his  x  mark)  Gordon. 

John  A.  Jimson. 

Silas  Cooper. 

Lydia  (her  x  mark)  Gordon. 
Sackett  Patterson. 
Moses  (his  x  mark)  Jackson. 
Chauncey  Grouse. 
Charles  Crouse. 
Peter  Shongo. 
Gustus  (his  x  mark)  Buck. 
Excey  (her  x  mark)  Buck. 
Emma  (her  x  mark)  Logan. 
Chester  Crouse. 
Anderson  B.  Shongo. 
John  (his  x  mark)  Jacob. 
Henry  (his  x  mark)  Redeye. 
Deforest  (his  x  mark)  Billy. 
John  B.  Lewis. 
Clinton  Pierce. 

Margarette  (her  x  mark)  Jacob. 

Thomas  Bishop. 

Sally  (her  x  mark)  Fun. 

Emily  Brooks. 

Lewis  Cooper. 

Louisa  Cooper. 

John  (his  x  mark)  Armstrong. 
A.  McD.  Pierce. 

Harriett  (her  x  mark)  Jamison. 

Isaac  (his  x  mark)  Jacob. 

Edward  (his  x  mark)  Harris. 

Hiram  Cooper. 

Payson  Jimson. 

Amos  Snow. 

Dwight  Bennett. 

Henry  (his  x  mark)  John. 

Owen  Jacobs. 

William  (his  x  mark)  Curry. 
Kennedy  (his  x  mark)  Curry. 
Nelson  (his  x  mark)  Snow. 


Phillip  Fatty. 

Solon  T.  Jimeson. 

Phebe  T.  Jimeson. 

Stephen  (his  x  mark)  Ray. 

William  (his  x  mark)  Lee. 

Jerome  (his  x  mark)  Snow. 

Henry  (his  x  mark)  Abram. 

Robert  (his  x  mark)  Nephew. 

Joel  M.  Silverheels. 

James  (his  x  mark)  Halfwhite. 

George  (bis  x  mark)  Halfwhite. 

William  John,  jr. 

David  (his  x  mark)  Winnie. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Titus. 

John  (his  x  mark)  P.  Jimeson. 

Evelyn  Jackson. 

HarleyA.  Blinky. 

Sheldon  Redeye. 

Henry  Redeye  2d. 

Martin  Jamison. 

Lewis  (his  x  mark)  John. 

Austin  (his  x  mark)  John. 

A.  G.  Silverheels. 

Lindsley  Bucktooth. 

Abel  Bucktooth. 

Willie  Stevens. 

Henrv  D.  Jackson. 

J.  E.  Halftown. 

Charles  Jineeon. 

Francis  Jones. 

Howard  T.  Jimerson. 

Ephraim  Jimeson. 

Bennett  (his  x  mark)  Redeye. 

John  T.  (his  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Gibson  Pierce. 

Jackson  (his  x  mark)  Blacksnake. 

Nathaniel  Plummer. 

James  (his  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Ida  (her  x  mark)  Crow,  mother. 

Philo  Nephew. 

James  Pierce. 

Charlie  Jimeson. 

Julia  Jimeson. 

Nancy  Thompson. 

Lyman  Pierce. 

Hiram  (his  x  mark)  Jacob. 

James  (his  x  mark)  George. 

Lucy  (her  x  mark)  Snow. 

Marcus  Abram. 

David  (his  x  mark)  Snow. 

Jack  (hi 8  x  mark)  Gordon. 

Andrew  Jackson. 

Wallace  Pierce,  jr. 

George  Crouse. 

Eliza  Halfwhite. 

Margaret  Sprague. 

Henry  Huff. 

David  Thomas. 

Solon  W.  Crouse. 

Thomas  W.  Jacobs. 

Cyrus  Crouse. 

Ezra  Jacobs. 

Turesa  (her  x  mark)  Jacob. 

Horace  Jimerson. 

Julia  Jimeson. 

Julia  (her  x  mark)  Titus. 

Mary  (her  x  mark)  Titus. 

Sackett  Jimeson. 

Sally  (her  x  mark)  Jacobs. 

Robert  (his  x  mark")  Jimeson. 


4 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


Amanda  Jimeson. 

Mary  (her  x  mark)  Howe. 

Jaue  (her  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Mary  A.  John. 

Mary  (her  x  mark)  Abram. 

Lewis  Plummer. 

Josiah  Jones. 

James  Jacobs. 

David  Killbuck. 

Peter  John. 

Allen  T.  (his  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Sylvester  Crouse. 

Alfred  (his  x  mark)  Logan. 

Louisa  (her  x  mark)  Logan. 

Joe  Snow. 

Alonzo  Jimeson. 

Emily  Jimerson. 

Jane  S.  Jimeson. 

Polly  Butler. 

George  Lee. 

Peter  Jackson. 

Jackson  (his  x  mark)  Titus. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Titus,  2d. 

Jane  (her  x  mark)  Titus. 

Nancy  Kenjockety. 

Julia  (her  x  mark)  Kenjockety. 

Charley  (his  x  mark)  Halftown. 

Morris  Lee. 

Lawra  Lee. 

Lawra  Halfwhite. 

Willis  (his  x  mark)  Redeye. 

Fred  Redeye  (not  of  age). 

Jennie  Shongo. 

John  Tuoqune. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Gordon. 

Eleanor  Big  Kettle. 

Sadie  George. 

Betsy  Johney  John. 

Agnes  Sprague. 

Hand  Shan  go. 

Theordore  A.  Gordon. 

Jones  Crouse. 

Sam  (his  x  mark)  Fatty. 

Gibson  (his  x  mark)  Curry. 

George  W.  Warrior,  jr. 

Ida  Curry. 

Peter  (his  x  mark)  Killbuck. 

Oliver  John. 

Lillie  C.  Jimeson. 

Joe  (his  x  mark)  Gordon,  2d. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Halfwhite,  2d. 

Jones  (his  x  mark)  Redeye. 

Henry  (his  x  mark)  Jackson. 

Willett  (his  x  mark)  Jackson. 

Howard  Jimeson. 

James  Watt. 

Jane  Watt. 

Sally  (her  x  mark)  Seneca. 
Chas.  Gorden. 

Harriett  (her  x  mark)  Huff. 
Maria  (her  x  mark)  Burrum. 
Laura  (her  x  mark)  Gordon. 
Lydia  (her  x  mark)  Cooper. 
William  Patterson. 
Joseph  (his  x  mark)  John. 
Sophina  Redeye. 
Elizabeth  Gordon. 


Howard  Redeye  (not  of  age). 

Jasper  (his  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Esther  (her  x  mark)  Crouse. 

Susan  (her  x  mark)  Redeye. 

William  Jimeson. 

Bert  Pierce. 

Laura  Jimeson. 

Lucy  (her  x  mark)  Redeye. 

Lucy  John. 

Lillie  John. 

Lucy  (her  x  mark)  Lewis. 
Sally  (her  x  mark)  Titus. 
Anna  (her  x  mark)  Titus. 
Laura  (her  x  mark)  Shongo. 
Emma  Pierce. 

Harrison  (his  x  mark)  Pierce. 
Emma  (her  x  mark)  Farmer. 
Ely  Farmer. 
Johnnie  Lewis. 
Irennie  Snow. 

James  (his  x  mark)  Halftown. 
William  (his  x  mark)  Cornfield  (not  of 
age). 

Ida  (her  x  mark)  Crouse. 

Lucy  (her  x  mark)  Shongo. 

Ella  L.  Jimerson. 

Mary  (her  x  mark)  Jimeson. 

Sarah  Snow. 

Willis  Jimeson. 

Edward  Dudley. 

Susan  Jimerson. 

Alex  Jimerson. 

Allen  Dudley. 

Joseph  (his  x  mark)  Armstrong. 

Harry  Logan. 

Asher  W.  Hare. 

Alfred  Logan. 

John  Logan. 

James  Armstrong. 

Jack  Hudson. 

Hawley  Thompson. 

Samuel  John. 

Hannah  John. 

Mary  Thompson. 

Alden  Johnson. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Fairchilds. 

Jesse  Turkey. 

James  A.  Crow. 

Lewis  Jones. 

Hiram  (his  x  mark)  Joe. 

Depores  A.  Snow. 

George  Snow. 

George  (his  x  mark)  Hudson. 

Alex  Maybee. 

Oliver  L.  Jemison. 

Solomon  Maybee. 

Chas.  Dennis. 

J.  T.  Pierce. 

Mrs.  Naomi  Jemison. 

Hattie  E.  Poodry. 

Frank  Logan. 

H.  L.  Bennett. 

W.  T.  Kennedy. 

Moses  Shongo. 

Mrs.  A.  E.  Shongo. 

Russell  H.  Prin  tup. 

George  A.  Jemison. 


450  names  on  foregoing  list,  ont  of  which  294  voters  signed. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


5 


At  a  convention  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  of  New  York,  held 
at  the  council  house  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation  on  the  28th  day 
of  October,  1897,  the  following  resolution  was  duly  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  in  convention  assembled, 
respectfully  request  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  amend  the 
act  of  Congress  passed  February  19, 1875,  entitled  "An  act  to  author- 
ize the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  of  New  York  to  lease  land,"  etc.,  to 
the  effect  as  follows : 

First  That  all  rental  from  the  Indian  leases  in  the  villages  on  the 
Alleghany  Reservation  be  paid  directly  by  the  lessees  to  the  United 
States  Indian  agent,  and  the  same  be  collected  by  the  United  States 
Indian  agent  from  the  lessees,  with  full  power  to  the  said  agent  to  col- 
lect the  same  on  the  19th  day  February  each  year. 

Also  that  the  United  States  Indian  agent  collect  and  receive  the 
proceeds  of  any  and  all  oil  wells  and  all  oil  which  the  Seneca  Nation 
of  Indians  may  be  entitled  to  receive.  That  the  sum  so  received  by 
said  United  States  Indian  agent  shall  be  set  aside  and  delivered  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  the  amount  not  to  exceed 
$1,500  in  any  one  year,  for  the  disbursements  of  council  of  said  nation. 
That  any  funds  remaining  in  the  hands  of  said  agent  after  the  said 
allowance  is  made  to  said  treasurer  of  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  shall 
be  distributed  by  said  agent  per  capita  among  the  Indians  on  the  first 
Wednesday  in  the  month  of  May  annually. 

Second.  That  the  United  States  Indian  agent  be  authorized  to  pro- 
cure all  records,  papers,  and  books  from  the  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the 
Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  for  inspection  and  investigation  with  refer- 
ence to  financial  affairs  of  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians. 

That,  in  case  rentals  have  been  withheld  at  any  time  by  any  officer  or 
officers  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  or  any  sum  or  sums  is  or  here- 
after may  be  due  from  any  officer  or  officers  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians  to  the  nation,  the  agent  be  authorized  to  recover  the  amount 
and  prosecute  any  officer  or  officers  who  may  be  guilty  of  any  criminal 
offense  relating  thereto. 

Third.  That  the  said  agent  be  authorized  to  carry  out  the  agreement 
between  the  lessees  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  in  the  village  on 
the  Alleghany  reservations,  and  the  council  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians,  dated  April  9, 1892;  and  that  in  all  subleases  there  shall  be 
made  an  allowauce  to  the  treasurer  of  the  said  nation  of  Indians 
according  to  the  terms  of  said  contract. 

That  in  case  of  a  violation  of  said  contract,  and  a  failure  to  pay  to 
the  treasurer  of  said  nation  the  allowance  provided  for  by  the  terms  of 
said  contract,  the  said  sublease  or  leases  shall  become  void. 

Fourth.  That  the  amount  of  compensation  to  be  paid  to  the  agent 
for  his  services  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  amendment  be 
fixed  and  determined. 

Fifth.  That  no  tenant  or  subtenant  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians 
shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  United  States  Indian  Agent. 

Adopted. 

We,  the  undersigned,  chairman,  clerk,  and  assistant  clerk  for  the 
above  said  convention,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  proceed- 
ings were  duly  adopted  by  a  large  majority  of  legal  voters  residing  on 
the  Cattaraugus  and  Alleghany  reservations  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
New  York  Indians  present. 

C.  S.  York,  Chairman. 

Andrew  John,  ClerJc. 

Lester  Bishop,  Assistant  Cleric, 


<3 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled: 

The  memorial  of  Andrew  John,  delegate  sent  by  the  people  of  the 
Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  urge  upon  Congress  the  passage 
of  Senate  bill  2888,  "To  regulate  the  collection  and  disbursement  of 
moneys  arising  from  leases  made  by  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York 
Indians,  and  for  other  purposes,"  respectfully  represents: 

That  under  the  existing  condition  of  things  injustice  is  done  to  the 
great  majority  of  the  people  of  the  Seneca  Nation  will  fully  appear  by 
an  examination  of  the  report  made  to  Hon.  William  A.  Jones,  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Affairs,  by  G.  B.  Pray,  special  United  States  Indian 
agent,  which  has  been  printed  and  appears  as  Senate  Doc.  No.  145, 
Fifty-fifth  Congress,  second  session. 

That  report  shows  conclusively  that  of  the  sum  of  $15,000  or  $20,000, 
which  is  or  should  be  collected  annually  from  the  leases  of  the  lands 
and  oil  privileges  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  scarcely  10  per  cent  has  been 
expended  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  while  the  balance  has  been 
squandered  by  the  officers  of  the  nation.  To  use  the  language  of  the 
special  agent,  on  page  3 : 

It  is  a  fact  that  I  do  not  think  they  will  dispute,  that  the  body  of  the  people  have 
not  received  from  its  officers  a  single  dollar  of  income  from  these  leases  during  the 
last  four  or  five  years. 

The  facts  disclosed  by  that  report  prove  conclusively  that  some  meas- 
ure of  relief  is  necessary,  but  it  is  claimed  by  those  who  are  antagoniz- 
ing this  bill  that  Congress  has  no  jurisdiction  in  the  matter,  but  that 
the  State  of  New  York  alone  has  the  power  to  correct  the  existing  evil. 
(See  Seuate  Doc.  145,  Fifty-fifth  Congress,  second  session,  p.  8.) 

That  Congress  has  at  all  times  exercised  supervision  over  the  Indian 
tribes  and  nations  is  a  matter  of  common  knowledge  and  needs  no  cita- 
tion of  authorities.  That  the  Seneca  Nation  still  comes  under  that 
supervision  is  also  made  manifest  by  the  fact  that  the  United  States 
has  permanently  located  among  them  a  United  States  Indian  agent. 
But  the  whole  subject-matter  of  these  leases  has  already  been  consid- 
ered and  acted  upon  by  Congress,  and,  in  fact,  the  very  existence  and 
validity  of  these  leases  are  dependent  upon  the  act  of  Congress  of 
February  19,  1875,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  September  30,  1890, 
referred  to  in  the  bill,  and  that  act  provides  for  the  manner  in  which 
the  rents  shall  be  collected.  The  bill  under  consideration  is  merely  an 
amendment  of  this  act,  and  provides  a  different  method  of  collecting 
the  rents. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
act  of  February  19, 1875,  was  enacted  because  the  courts  had  held  that 
leases  by  the  Seneca  Nation  to  white  men,  although  specially  ratified 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  were  void  and 
could  not  be  enforced. 

(See  United  States  Eevised  Statutes,  section  2116.) 

This  subject  was  particularly  treated  by  Mr.  Harris  in  his  report 
from  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  when  this  measure  was  under 
consideration.  On  page  3  of  that  report,  being  H.  Eeport  No.  478,  Forty- 
third  Congress,  first  session,  he  says: 

The  supreme  court  of  New  York  and  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
have  decided  that  the  legislature  of  New  York  has  no  jurisdiction  over  the  subject, 
and  can  give  no  force  or  validity  to  any  leases  of  land  within  said  reservation,  nor 
give  any  authority  to  such  in  any  way.  The  result  is  that  no  lease  heretofore  made 
by  said  nation  or  individual  Indian,  or  any  which  they  can  hereafter  make,  is  or  can 
be  of  any  validity  in  law  or  in  equity. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


7 


The  rights  and  duties  of  the  Federal  Government  in  the  premises  and 
the  absence  of  right  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  New  York  are  further 
established  by  the  following  references: 

Treaty  of  Canandaigua,  November  11,  1794  (7  Stats.  L.,  41). 

Fellows  v.  Denniston  (5  Wallace,  761). 

It  is  true  that  the  State  of  New  York  with  the  consent  of  the  Seneca 
Nation,  and  without  objection  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  has 
given  the  Seneca  Nation  a  charter  under  which  they  are  now,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  conducting  their  internal  affairs.  But  it  can  not  be 
contended  that  this  act  of  the  State  legislature  destroys  the  authority 
of  the  United  States  in  the  matter. 

Neither  the  constitution  of  the  State  nor  any  act  of  its  legislature,  however  for- 
mal or  solemn,  whatever  rights  it  may  confer  on  those  Indians  or  withhold  from  them, 
can  withdraw  them  from  the  influence  of  an  act  of  Congress  which  that  body  has 
the  constitutional  right  to  pass  concerning  them.  (United  States  v.  Holliday,  3 
Wall.  407). 

Indeed,  if  it  were  necessary  to  do  so,  the  validity  of  that  act  in  other 
respects  might  be  called  in  question.  Thus  in  the  case  of  Eyan  v. 
Kuorr.,  19  Hun.,  p.  545  (N.  Y.),  the  court  says,  in  speaking  of  this 
legislation : 

This,  in  the  ordinary  form  of  a  legislative  enactment,  contained  many  other  pro- 
visions and  regulations  in  regard  to  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  officers  of  the 
Seneca  Nation  in  respect  to  Avhich  it  may  he  douhted  whether  the  legislature  of  New 
Yock  had  any  jurisdiction  or  authority. 

It  is,  therefore,  most  respectfully  submitted  that  Congress  has  ample 
authority  to  make  the  proposed  changes. 

So  far  as  the  third  objection  raised  by  the  delegation,  as  set  out  on 
page  8  of  Senate  Doc.  No.  145,  Fifty-fifth  Congress,  second  session, 
your  memorialist  would  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  to  straighten  out 
the  accounts  of  the  Indians  in  regard  to  these  leases,  and  get  them 
properly  arranged,  will  require  a  very  considerable  amount  of  work,  as 
will  appear  from  the  report  of  Special  Agent  Pray,  already  referred  to. 

That  this,  together  with  the  collection  of  the  rents,  would  add  ma- 
terially to  the  labors  of  the  Indian  agent  is  undeniable,  and  it  only 
seems  right  that  the  Indians  should  pay  for  this  service.  That  the 
commission  of  5  per  cent  would  not  be  excessive  for  the  first  year's 
services  is  obvious,  and  your  memorialist  will  gladly  agree  to  any 
reasonable  amendment  of  the  bill  in  this  particular  that  may  meet  with 
the  approval  of  Congress. 

Your  memorialist  does,  therefore,  most  humbly  pray  that  the  legis- 
lation asked  for  be  enacted,  in  the  interest  of  justice,  and  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians. 

Andrew  John, 
Delegate  of  the  people  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians, 
Washington,  D.  C,  March  10,  1898. 


[House  Keport  No.  478,  Forty-third  Congress,  first  session.] 

The  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs,  to  whom  was  referred  House  bill 
No.  1053,  submit  their  report  as  follows : 

The  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  now  occupy  the  Cattarau- 
gus and  Allegany  reservations  in  western  New  York.  The  former  of 
these  reservations  contains  about  23,000  and  the  latter  about  30,000 
acres.  These  lands  are  all  which  is  left  to  them  of  their  former  exten- 
sive territory.   They  hold  them  under  the  treaty  of  November  11, 1794, 


8 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


which  declares  that  "the  United  States  will  never  claim  the  same  nor 
disturb  them  or  either  of  the  Six  Nations,  nor  their  Indian  friends  resid- 
ing thereon  and  united  with  them,  in  the  free  use  and  enjoyment 
thereof,  but  the  said  reservation  shall  remain  theirs  until  they  choose  to 
sell  the  same,"  &c. 

No  treaties  with  Indians  which  attempt  to  provide  against  the  en- 
croachments of  civilization, or  to  secure  them  in  undisturbed  possession 
of  their  lands,  can  long  be  maintained  according  to  the  strict  letter, 
even  in  the  remote  mountain  regions  of  the  West,  much  less  in  the 
central  part  of  a  great,  prosperous,  and  populous  State  like  New  York. 

It  was  impossible  that  these  small  reservations,  entirely  surrounded 
as  they  are  with  thriving  and  increasing  manufacturing  and  agricul- 
tural communities,  should  escape  the  fate  common  to  all  other  reserva- 
tions of  the  kind. 

With  the  growth  of  the  country,  commerce  and  trade  demanded  the 
construction  of  new  avenues  of  communication.  Long  lines  of  railroad 
have  been  constructed  from  the  east  to  the  west;  and  as  no  obstacles 
in  nature  are  found  sufficient  in  our  day  to  block  their  way,  it  is  not 
strange  that  they  have  paid  little  heed  to  Indian  reservations  or  treaty 
stipulations. 

Accordingly  we  find  that  the  Erie  Railroad  has  crossed  the  reserva- 
tion, and  has  erected  depots,  machine  shops,  and  other  buildings  and 
structures  required  for  the  conduct  of  its  large  business,  upon  the  In- 
dian lauds.  The  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railroad,  connecting  itself 
with  the  Erie  Railroad,  has  extended  its  line  through  the  whole  length 
of  this  narrow  reservation.  At  the  junction  of  these  roads  a  thriving 
and  important  village  has  sprung  up,  known  by  the  name  of  Salamanca, 
which  now  contains,  besides  buildings  used  for  railroad  purposes,  nu- 
merous stores,  warehouses,  and  private  dwellings,  as  well  as  churches, 
school  houses,  aud  other  public  buildings,  and  has  a  laborious  and 
industrious  population  of  nearly  three  thousand  people. 

The  Allegany  Reservation  is  about  forty  miles  in  length,  extending 
on  both  sides  of  the  Allegany  River,  and  is  hardly  more  than  one  mile 
in  width.  The  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railroad,  going  west  from 
Salamanca,  keeps  by  the  side  of  the  river,  and  thus  in  the  center  of  the 
reservation.  It  was  inevitable  that  the  population  residing  outside  of 
the  reservation,  on  each  side  of  it,  would  seek  and  demand  accommoda- 
tion by  this  railroad.  The  result  has  been  that  railroad  stations  have 
been  established  upon  the  reservation  along  the  line  of  said  road  at 
Carrolton,  Great  Valley,  Red  House,  and  Yandalia,  at  each  of  which 
places  small  settlements  have  been  made,  which  will  doubtless  increase 
in  the  future. 

But  although  these  railroads  have  been  built  across  the  Indian  lands 
in  violation  of  the  letter  of  treaties  made  with  the  Seneca  Nation,  and 
can  be  said  now  to  have  no  lawful  right  there,  yet  they  have  not  been  so 
constructed  without  the  consent  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  nor  without 
just  compensation  being  made;  nor  have  the  settlers  and  villagers  gone 
upon  the  Indian  lands  against  the  will,  or  without  the  consent,  of  the 
Indians,  or  with  any  intention  or  desire  to  violate  their  rights  or  privi- 
leges. So  far  as  has  appeared,  the  railroad  companies  have  dealt  fairly, 
taking  from  the  said  Seneca  Nation  leases  of  the  lands  they  occupy, 
paying  full  compensation  for  the  rights  secured.  The  settlers  in  said 
villages  have  also  dealt  honorably,  and  are  all  tenants  of  the  Seneca 
Nation,  or  of  individual  Indians,  paying  just  annual  rent  for  their  lands. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  Indians  are  dissatisfied  with  the  arrange- 
ment, or  that  they  have  just  cause  for  complaint  of  the  tenants. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


9 


The  only  title  which  the  Indian  can  give  is  a  leasehold  title.  They 
have  only  the  right  of  possession.  The  preemptive  right,  or  the  right 
to  extinguish  the  Indian  title  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  in  this  case 
belonged  originally  to  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  but  has  passed  by 
several  conveyances  to  the  trustees  of  the  Ogden  Land  Company,  who 
now  hold  it. 

But  the  Indian  right  to  occupy  is  a  right  forever,  or  so  long  as  the 
nation  may  last;  and  it  would  seem  that  they  should  have  the  legal 
right  and  power  to  make  their  possession  profitable  and  useful  to  them 
by  leasing  it  to  tenants,  if  they  see  fit. 

But  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  and  the  treaties  made  with 
the  Seneca  Nation,  the  Indians  are  incapable  of,  and  prohibited  from, 
making  valid  contracts  concerning  the  use  and  occupation  of  their 
lands.  The  law  now  in  force  is  as  follows:  "No  purchase,  grant,  lease, 
or  other  conveyance  of  land,  or  of  any  title  or  claim  thereto,  from  any 
Indian  nation  or  tribe  of  Indians,  shall  be  of  any  validity  in  law  or  in 
equity,  unless  the  same  be  made  by  treaty  or  convention,  entered  into 
pursuant  to  the  Constitution."    (Stat,  at  Large,  vol.  4,  p.  730.) 

Heavy  penalties  are  also  provided  against  the  violation  of  its  provi- 
sions. 

Notwithstanding  such  is  the  law,  neither  the  railroads  nor  settlers  are 
trespassers  in  spirit  or  purpose,  however  much  they  may  be  technically 
so;  for,  until  recently,  they  acted  under  laws  enacted  by  the  State  of 
New  York,  which  were  passed  and  intended  to  confirm  and  authorize 
leases  made  by  white  men  with  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians.  They 
relied  upon  the  laws  so  enacted,  and  in  good  faith  took  leases  of  land 
from  said  nation  and  from  individual  Indians  holding  under  the  nation, 
and  have  erected  thereon  not  only  houses  more  or  less  costly  and  taste- 
ful, but  expensive  buildings  for  trade  and  manufactures,  schoolbouses, 
churches,  and  other  buildings,  and  have  laid  out  a  comely  town. 

The  Indians  do  not  desire  that  these  villages  should  be  removed  or 
broken  up,  or  that  these  leases  should  be  canceled;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  they  profess  to  be  willing  to  carry  out  all  their  leases  according 
to  their  terms;  and  if  they  object  to  a  law  confirming  them,  or  author- 
izing new  ones  to  be  made,  it  is  because,  being  simple  in  their  ideas  of 
individual  property,  they  do  not  appreciate  the  importance  which  a 
white  man  attaches  to  having  his  contract  not  only  legal  but  capable 
of  being  enforced  by  law. 

The  supreme  court  of  New  York  and  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States  have  decided  that  the  legislature  of  New  York  has  no 
jurisdiction  over  the  subject,  and  can  give  no  force  or  validity  to  any 
leases  of  land  within  said  reservation,  nor  give  any  authority  to  such 
in  any  way.  The  result  is  that  no  lease  heretofore  made  by  said  nation 
or  individual  Indian,  or  any  which  they  can  hereafter  make,  is  or  can 
"be  of  any  validity  in  law  or  in  equity." 

The  value  of  improvements  made  upon  land  in  Salamanca  and  the 
other  villages  by  the  white  settlers  is  estimated  at  $3,000,000. 

Under  this  state  of  the  case,  the  residents  in  these  villages  have  no 
remedy  whatever  against  wrongdoers  and  trespassers.  They  can  neither 
collect  rents  nor  expel  delinquent  tenants.  They  are,  moreover,  exposed 
to  the  danger  of  being  removed,  with  entire  loss  of  their  property,  when- 
ever any  designing  person  shall  incite  the  Indians  to  demand  a  strict 
enforcement  of  their  treaty  rights. 

Their  only  dependence  now  is  in  the  well-known  and  long  acknowl- 
edged high  sense  of  honor  of  the  Seneca  Indians. 

The  committee  feel  that  such  a  state  of  things  ought  not  longer  to  be 


10 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


permitted  to  exist,  and  that  it  is  just  and  right  that  Congress  should 
ratify  and  confirm  the  free  and  voluntary  contracts  of  their  Indian 
wards,  made  in  good  faith  and  for  a  sufficient  consideration.  The  com- 
mittee do  not  deem  it  just  or  wise,  even  if  Congress  may  have  tbe  legal 
right,  to  violate  or  abridge  in  any  way  the  right  of  the  Indian  to  the 
free  use  and  enjoyment  of  the  reservations  as  set  forth  in  the  treaty  of 
1794,  and  they  therefore  reject  all  the  provisions  of  the  bill  referred  to 
them  except  those  which  relate  to  existing  leases  and  leases  hereafter 
to  be  made.  They  think  it  just  and  safe  to  give  them  power  to  lease 
their  lands  if  they  choose,  and,  having  done  so,  the  law  should  give 
validity  to  their  acts. 

We  annex  to  the  report  the  petitions  and  remonstrances  filed  in  the 
case. 

Your  committee  report  the  accompanying  bill  as  a  substitute  for  House 
bill  No.  1053,  and  recommend  its  passage. 


We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  occupants  of  land  in  the 
town  of  Salamanca,  on  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
respectfully  but  earnestly  pray  Congress  to  pass  the  bill  to  which  reference  is  made 
in  the  resolutions  hereto  annexed. 

[Signed  by  John  J.  O'Donnell  and  799  others.] 


Preamble  and  resolutions  adopted  at  a  citizens'  meeting  held  at  Flint's  Hall,  Salamanca, 
February  13,  1S74 — H.  O.  Wait,  president;  0.  B.  Seimar,  secretary. 

Whereas,  by  the  junction  of  the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railroad  with  the  Erie 
Railroad  at  Salamanca,  on  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  necessary  repair  and 
machine  shops  and  transfer  freight  houses,  to  successfully  operate  said  roads,  had  to  be 
constructed  at  that  point,  and  a  sufficient  number  of  persons  employed  to  transfer  the 
freight  received  from  one  road  to  the  other  and  to  carry  on  said  shops ;  and  that  by 
the  employment  of  persons  sufficient  for  said  railroad  purposes  at  said  place  other 
pursuits,  as  a  natural  consequence  thereof,  necessarily  followed,  to  meet  the  demands 
of  the  laborers  thus  employed  and  the  requirements  of  the  public; 

And  whereas,  the  Indians,  both  individually  and  by  their  government,  represented 
by  their  president  and  council,  made  and  granted  leases  of  such  lands  upon  reason- 
able terms  for  a  yearly  compensation,  to  be  occupied  by  private  residences,  business 
houses,  manufacturing  shops,  waterpowers  for  mills  and  necessary  buildings,  rail 
road  depots,  repair  and  machine  shops,  and  other  buildings  necessarily  connected 
with  railroads,  and  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  authorized  and  sanc- 
tioned such  occupancy  by  enacting  a  statute  law  confirming  the  same; 

And  whereas,  by  inducements  thus  held  out  and  sanctioned,  the  settlement  upon 
said  reservation  lands  in  said  town  continued  to  increase  from  year  to  year  until  at 
present  more  than  three  thousand  people  have  become  occupants  thereof,  and  capital 
invested  to  the  amount  of  more  than  three  million  dollars; 

And  whereas,  after  such  investment  and  settling,  induced  as  aforesaid,  under  the 
protection  and  authority  of  the  government  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  and  the 
State  of  NewYork,  the  courts,  whose  mandates  all  are  bound  to  obey,  have  determined 
and  decided  that  our  money  so  invested  and  property  thus  accumulated  is  without 
authority  of  law  and  void,  and  the  leases  are  only  evidence  of  our  being  trespassers 
on  said  lands,  and  our  occupancy  is  at  the  mere  mercy  of  the  Indians,  whom  the  courts 
stand  ready  to  aid,  whenever  invoked,  to  compel  us  to  relinquish  all  of  said  property 
and  vacate  the  possession  thereof;  and  have  also  held  and  decided  that  Congress 
alone  possesses  the  power  to  afford  any  relief:  Therefore, 

Beit  resolved,  That  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be,  and  hereby  is,  requested,  as 
the  only  remedy  for  all  our  existing  evils,  to  pass  the  bill  now  pending  before  that 
body,  entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  Indians  in  the 
State  of  New  York  to  lease  lands,  confirm  leases,  and  quiet  titles  to  their  lands. " 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  Senators  and  Members  of  this  State  be,  and  hereby 
are,  specially  requested  to  exert  their  inliuence  in  our  behalf  to  press  the  aforesaid 
bill  to  an  immediate  passage. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  our  committee  who  have  this  matter  in  charge  be, 
and  hereby  are,  requested  to  persevere  in  the  great  work  before  them  until  it  shall 
be  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


11 


And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  preambles  and  resolutions,  together 
frith  the  petition  to  Congress  this  evening  signed  and  adopted,  be  forwarded  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  that  a  copy  thereof  be  furnished  the  press  for  pub- 
lication, and  also  a  copy  be  annexed  and  forwarded  with  said  petition. 


To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress 
assembled: 

We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  residing  on  the  Alle- 
gany Reservation,  and  the  Cornplanter  reserve,  Warren  County,  Pa.,  respectfully 
represent  that  we  are  the  descendants  and  representatives  of  a  once  powerful  and 
numerous  tribe  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  an  extensive  territory;  that  they 
are  informed  that  a  bill  is  now  pending  before  your  honorable  body  providing  a  sub- 
division and  allotment  of  lands  be  made  on  the  Allegany  and  Cattaraugus  reserva- 
tions in  the  State  of  New  York,  among  the  Senecas,  and  for  the  legalizing  of  leases  of 
lands  in  the  town  of  Salamanca,  which,  among  other  things,  we  would  most  respect- 
fully state  that  we  are  in  favor  of  having  allotment  of  land  to  us.  It  would  certainly 
be  beneficial  to  our  nation  as  a  people.  At  present  we  are  living  in  common,  which 
show  a  strong  evidence,  more  tendency,  neglecting  agricultural  pursuits,  or  making 
any  improvement.  If  each  of  us,  instead,  had  his  parcel  of  land  to  occupy,  it  would 
encourage  us  to  labor  and  become  independent.  If  our  Great  Father,  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  will  provide  for  his  children  in  this  way,  they  will  be  satisfied. 

That  the  Society  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  earnestly  requested  us  to  present 
our  prayer  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  urge  for  passage  of  the  bill  in 
relation  to  the  allotment  of  lands. 

Dated  February  2,  1874. 

[Signed  by  John  Jacobs  Square  and  thirty-six  others.] 


To  the  Congress  of  the  United  States: 

Your  petitioners,  the  officers  and  members  of  the  national  council  of  the  Seneca 
Nation  of  Indians,  would  respectfully  represent  that  we  have  been  informed  that  a 
bill  has  been  introduced  into  the  House  of  Representatives  of  your  honorable  body, 
which  provides  in  some  manner  for  the  sale  of  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the  small  remnant 
of  land  belonging  to  us  and  our  people;  and  that  we,  as  the  representatives  of  the 
New  York  Indians  residing  upon  the  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  Indian  reservations, 
desire  to  protest  in  the  most  solemn  and  emphatic  manner  against  any  legislation 
affecting  our  lands.  And  as  we  obtained  our  rights  to  this  land  by  a  free  and  vol- 
untary treaty,  in  which  each  party  freely  participates  through  its  own  agents, 
selected  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  as  its  laws  and  customs  required,  and  on 
the  part  of  the  Seneca  tribe  of  Indians  as  its  laws  and  customs  provided,  so  we  ask 
that,  if  we  are  to  be  deprived  of  any  part  of  this  land,  it  may  be  done  by  a  treaty,  and 
that  we  may  be  heard  through  our  lawfully  authorized  agents.  And  as  such  a  treaty 
would  require  a  ratification  by  your  Senate  and  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
so  it  would  under  our  laws  require  ratification  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  the  legal 
electors,  and  also  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  the  mothers  in  our  nation. 

If,  then,  you  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  land  which  we  hold  under  your 
treaty  of  November  1,  1799,  in  these  words,  "Now,  the  United  States  acknowledge 
all  the  land  within  the  aforementioned  boundaries  to  be  the  property  of  the  Seneca 
Nation,  and  the  United  States  will  never  claim  the  same,  nor  disturb  the  Seneca  Nation, 
nor  any  of  the  Six  Nations  or  of  their  Indian  friends  residing  thereon  and  united  with 
them,  in  the  free  use  and  enjoyment  thereof,  but  it  shall  remain  theirs  until  they 
choose  to  sell  the  same  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  who  have  the  right  to  pur- 
chase/' should  be  taken  from  us,  we  ask  that  it  may  be  done  in  the  manner  in  which 
it  was  set  apart  for  us,  i.  e.,  by  treaty,  and  then  only  by  our  consent.  And  we  earn- 
estly urge  that  the  passage  of  any  law  by  Congress,  the  effect  of  which  would  be  to 
deprived  us  of  any  part  of  our  land,  under  and  pretext  or  consideration,  would  be  a 
violation  of  that  part  of  said  treaty  which  says  that  this  land  shall  remain  ours  until 
we  choose  to  sell  it. 

And  we  would  further  remonstrate  and  state  that  we  are  the  legal  representatives  of 
the  Seneca  Nation ;  that  we  derive  our  authority  from  a  written  constitution  adopted 
by  our  nation  December  4, 1848,  and  that  as  such  a  nation  we  have  ever  been  acknowl- 
edged and  dealt  with  by  all  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  that  we  do,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  attested  by  the  signature  of  every 
councilor  and  officer  of  said  nation,  remonstrate  against  the  passage  of  any  law  look- 
ing to  the  sale  of  one  foot  of  our  land ;  and  we  do  in  that  manner  state  that  the  Sen- 
eca Nation  do  not  choose  to  sell  their  land  nor  any  part  of  it. 

Your  petitioners  would  further  state  that  they  do  believe  that  every  part  and  all  of 
their  lands  are  needed  and  required  by  their  people;  that  they  as  a  nation  have  dis- 
charged their  duty  in  this,  that  no  Indian  is  a  charge  upon  the  poor  fund  or  poorhouse 
S.  Doc.  11  58 


12 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


of  the  whites ;  that  no  Indian  suffers  for  the  want  of  food,  clothing,  or  warmth ;  that 
provision  has  been  made  for  the  education  of  all  our  Indian  children;  and  that  the 
criminal  records  of  the  counties  in  which  our  lands  are  located  will  show  that  crimes 
are  very  much  less  frequent  among  our  people  than  among  an  equal  number  of  whites 
adjoining  us.  Our  churches  are  sustained  with  personal  attendance  and  with  money. 
While  we  are  thus  steadily  progressing  in  the  civilization  of  the  whites,  we  are  kept 
in  constant  terror  by  efforts  being  made  upon  all  sides  of  us  to  take  away  our  lauds. 
The  Ogden  Land  Company  have  ever  been  our  steady,  stealthy  enemy,  and  have  been 
and  still  are  trying  by  every  means  to  drive  us  from  these  lands,  as  they  have  or  claim 
to  have  the  right  to  them  as  soon  as  we  can  be  removed  from  the  soil.  And  now  we 
have  a  new  element  of  trouble.  Many  years  ago  the  State  of  New  York  authorized  the 
Erie  Railroad  to  be  built  across  the  Allegany  Indian  Reservation;  a  few  years  after, 
the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  Railroad  was  built  across  the  same  reservation,  joining 
the  Erie  Kailroad  upon  our  lands  at  Salamanca;  and  now  another  railroad  has  been 
built,  also  terminating  on  our  lands  at  Salamanca.  All  of  these  railroads  have  taken 
possession  of  as  much  land  as  they  chose  to,  and  their  employe's  have  taken  other 
lands  adjoining  and  built  up  a  large  town. 

No  part  of  these  lands  have  been  lawfully  leased  either  under  the  authority,  laws, 
and  customs  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  or  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 
but  the  entire  occupancy  of  lands  surrounding  the  said  railroad  junction  at  Sala- 
manca is  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  the  laws,  customs,  and  usages  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians. 

Your  petitioners  are  informed  that  the  application  for  the  sale  of  our  lands  is  being 
made  in  the  interest  of  these  white  settlers,~who  have  thus  unlawfully  obtained  posses- 
sion of  our  lands. 

Your  petitioners  would  further  state  that  they  are  an  agricultural  people;  that  if 
they  can  be  assured  of  holding  their  lands  they  can  make  permanent  improvements, 
but  that  every  effort  made  to  deprive  them  of  their  lands  tends  to  prevent  action  in 
that  direction ;  that  all  they  need  and  ask  is  such  an  assurance  of  their  continued 
possession  as  a  refusal  by  Congress  to  consider  any  proposition  providing  for  the  sale 
of  their  lands.  Your  petitioners,  therefore,  pray  that  the  act  proposed  may  be  rejected. 

Your  petitioners  would  further  represent  that  they  have  appointed  and  authorized 
Harrison  Halftown  and  Moses  Stevenson,  councilmen  of  our  nation,  and  Andrew  John, 
a  peacemaker  thereof,  to  present  this  remonstrance,  and  to  represent  us  before  your 
honorable  body. 

Allegany  Indian  Reservation,  December  18,  1873. 

[Signed  by  the  president,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  councillors  of  the  Allegany  and 
Cattaraugus  reservations.] 


To  the  honorable  the  Congress  of  the  United  States: 

Your  petitioners,  members  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  residing  in  the  Allegany 
and  Cattaraugus  reservations  in  the  State  of  New  York,  respectfully  remonstrate 
against  the  passage  of  bill  House  of  Representatives  1053,  "to  authorize  the 
Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  Indians  in  the  State  of  New  York  to  lease  lands,  confirm 
leases,  and  quiet  titles  to  their  lands; "  and  we  further  represent  that  we  are  a  nation 
claimed  peaceable  people ;  therefore  we  ask  the  honorable  Congress  to  let  us  alone. 

Dated  Allegany  Reservation,  January  31,  1874. 

[Signed  by  William  Patterson,  jr.,  and  216  other  males,  and  by  125  mothers  of  the 
nation.] 


Department  of  the  Interior, 

Washington,  March  12,  1898. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communi- 
cation of  the  3d  instant,  and  accompanying  S.  2888,  "  A  bill  to  regulate 
the  collection  and  disbursement  of  moneys  arising  from  leases  made  by 
the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  and  for  other  purposes." 

In  response  thereto  I  transmit  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  of  the  10th 
instant  from  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  to  whom  the  matter 
was  referred. 

The  Commissioner  states  that  his  office  is  and  has  for  a  long  time 
been  fully  satisfied  that  the  moneys  of  the  Seneca  Nation  arising  from 
lenses  have  been  misappropriated,  and  that  the  people  do  not  get  the 
full  benefit  of  them,  and  that  it  is  also  fully  satisfied  that  something 
should  be  done  to  correct  this  and  other  evils  growing  out  of  the  some- 
what anomalous  condition  and  status  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


13 


and  their  lands;  but  whether  the  proper  remedy  is  to  be  furnished  by 
an  act  of  Congress  is  a  question  that  he  submits  to  the  wisdom  of  that 
body. 

He  further  states  also  that  he  has  no  objection  to  the  passage  of  the 
bill,  but  suggests  that  section  3  be  so  amended  as  to  provide  that  the 
additional  compensation  of  the  agent  shall  in  no  event  exceed  the  sum 
of  $1,000. 

With  the  Commissioner's  letter  is  a  copy  of  a  resolution  adopted  at  a 
convention  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  held  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation 
October  28,  1897,  asking,  in  substance,  for  the  legislation  which  is  em- 
bodied in  this  bill. 

Very  respectfully, 

C.  N.  Bliss,  Secretary. 

Hon.  M.  S.  Quay, 

United  States  Senate. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 

Office  of  Indian  Affairs, 

Washington,  March  10,  1898. 

Sir  :  I  am  in  receipt  by  your  reference  for  report  of  a  letter  dated 
March  3,  from  Senator  Quay,  inclosing,  with  request  for  information, 
copy  of  Senate  bill  2888  to  regulate  the  collection  and  disbursement  of 
moneys  arising  from  leases  made  by  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York 
Indians,  and  copy  of  Senate  Ex.  Doc.  No.  145,  Fifty-fifth  Congress, 
second  session,  to  accompany  the  same. 

Section  1  of  the  bill  provides  that  all  moneys  due  the  Seneca  Nation 
as  rent  under  the  act  of  February  19,  1875,  entitled  "  An  act  to  author- 
ize the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  lease  lands  within  the 
Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations  and  to  confirm  existing  leases" 
(18  Stats.,  330),  and  also  moneys  arising  from  certain  oil  leases  which 
were  confirmed  by  a  provision  of  the  Indian  appropriation  act  for  the 
current  fiscal  year,  shall  be  paid  to  and  recoverable  by  the  United 
States  Indian  agent,  New  York  agency,  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  Seneca 
Nation. 

Section  2  provides  that  from  the  moneys  so  received  by  the  agent  he 
shall  annually  pay  over  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  the  sum 
of  $1,500  and  distribute  the  balance,  after  deducting  necessary  charges 
and  expenses,  among  the  heads  of  families  of  the  Seneca  Nation  in  the 
same  manner  and  under  the  same  conditions  as  the  annuities  now  paid 
said  nation  by  the  United  States  are  distributed. 

Section  3  provides  that  the  agent  shall  give  bond  to  the  United  States 
in  such  sum  as  may  be  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  make 
annual  report  to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  of  the  receipt  and 
disbursement  of  said  moneys,  and  receive  annually  as  additional  com- 
pensation the  sum  of  5  per  centum  of  all  sums  so  received  and  disbursed 
by  him. 

Section  4  provides  that  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  shall 
annually  make  written  report  to  the  United  States  Indian  agent  of  all 
disbursements  made  by  him  of  all  moneys  received  by  him  as  treasurer 
of  said  nation. 

The  Senate  document  above  mentioned  publishes  an  undated  report 
to  this  office  by  Mr.  Gr.  B.  Pray,  special  United  States  Indian  agent, 
showing  the  result  of  his  investigation  of  the  lease-money  business  of 
the  Senecas.  He  finds  in  substance  that  money  is  unlawfully  appro- 
priated and  that  the  affairs  of  the  Seneca  Nation  should  have  a  thorough 
investigation. 


14 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


I  have  the  honor  to  state  by  way  of  report  that  this  office  is  and  has 
for  a  long  time  been  fully  satisfied  that  the  moneys  of  the  Seneca  Nation 
arising  from  leases  have  been  misappropriated,  and  that  the  people  do 
not  get  the  full  benefit  of  them.  It  is  also  fully  satisfied  that  something 
should  be  done  to  correct  this  and  other  evils  growing  out  of  the  some- 
what anomalous  condition  and  status  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians 
and  their  lands;  but  whether  the  proper  remedy  is  to  be  furnished  by 
an  act  of  Congress  is  a  question  that  I  must  respectfully  submit  to  the 
wisdom  of  that  body. 

The  Seneca  Indians  are  a  corporated  body  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  the  location  of  the  fee  of  their  land,  as  between 
that  nation,  the  Ogden  Land  Company,  and  the  State  of  New  York,  is 
an  important  matter  of  controversy. 

Section  44,  chapter  229,  of  the  laws  of  New  York,  1893,  provides  that 
the  treasurer  of  the  nation  shall  give  a  bond  to  the  nation,  with  such 
sureties  and  in  such  amount  as  the  attorney  of  the  nation  shall  approve, 
for  faithful  performance  of  duty,  and  for  any  breach  of  the  conditions 
of  such  work  an  action  may  be  maintained  for  the  benefit  of  such 
nation  by  their  attorney  in  the  mauner  provided  by  law  for  the  breach 
of  an  official  bond  given  by  a  county  treasurer.  The  said  section 
further  provides  that— 

The  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  shall  receive  all  moneys  belonging  to  the 
nation  except  the  annuities  paid  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States  or  the 
State  of  New  York. 

Whether  the  remedy  thus  provided  has  been  tried  and  found  wanting 
I  am  not  advised. 

It  has  been  the  purpose  and  policy  of  this  office  for  some  years  to 
limit  its  dealings  with  the  New  York  Indians  to  the  payment  of  annui- 
ties due  to  them  by  the  United  States,  to  the  enforcement  of  the  liquor 
laws,  and  to  act  in  an  advisory  capacity  with  respect  to  their  affairs 
generally,  having  always  a  due  regard  for  the  State  laws  enacted  for 
their  benefit. 

In  pursuance  of  this  policy  this  office,  by  letter  of  January  8  last, 
transmitted  to  the  Department,  with  the  request  that  it  be  transmitted 
to  the  governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  be  submitted  to  the  legis- 
lature, a  petition  numerously  signed  by  the  Indians,  that  the  State  law 
be  so  amended  as  to  give  them  the  right  of  appeal  from  the  peace- 
maker's courts  to  the  courts  of  the  State  in  action  involving  title  to 
real  property. 

Notwithstanding  this  policy,  however,  and  with  no  intention  of  aban- 
doning it,  I  have  no  objection  to  make  to  the  passage  of  the  bill  under 
consideration,  because  of  my  realization  of  the  fact  that  something 
must  be  done  to  prevent  the  continued  misuse  of  the  Indians'  money. 
It  is  suggested,  however,  that  section  3  of  the  bill  should  be  so  amended 
as  to  provide  that  the  additional  compensation  of  the  agent  shall  in  no. 
event  exceed  the  sum  of  $1,000  per  annum. 

I  deem  it  proper  to  add  that  by  letter  of  November  2,  1897,  the 
United  States  Indian  agent,  New  York  Agency,  transmitted  copy  of  a 
resolution  adopted  at  a  convention  of  the  Seneca  Nation  held  at  the 
council  house  on  the  Cattaraugus  ^Reservation  October  28, 1897,  asking, 
in  substance,  for  the  legislation  which  is  embodied  in  this  bill. 

I  inclose  copy  of  the  said  resolution,  and  return  the  papers  referred 
by  you. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  C.  TONNER, 

Acting  Commissioner, 

The  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS.  15 


Senate  Document  No.  145,  Fifty-fifth  Congress,  second  session. 
Mr.  Quay  presented  the  following 

PAPERS  TO  ACCOMPANY  S.  2828,  TO  REGULATE  THE  COLLECTION 
AND  DISBURSEMENT  OF  MONEYS  ARISING  FROM  LEASES  MADE 
BY  SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS,  AND  FOR  OTHER 
PURPOSES. 


Hon.  William  A.  Jones, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  G. 

Sill:  In  compliance  with  your  instructions  of  January  28  I  proceeded 
to  the  New  York  Agency  at  Olean  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the 
matters  to  which  you  called  my  attention  relating  to  the  Seneca  Nation 
of  Indians.  I  have  been  to  Little  Valley,  the  county  seat,  and  examined 
the  records  of  the  Indian  leases  as  recorded  there,  and  also  have  exam- 
ined the  books  of  the  nation  of  the  Seneca  Indians,  kept  by  the  clerk 
at  the  town  of  Salamanca. 

The  Senecas  reside  upon  three  reservations — the  Cattaraugus,  Alle- 
gany, and  Oil  Spring — and  are  a  corporate  body  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  They  are  acting  under  a  constitution  which,  as 
amended,  was  adopted  January  13, 1893.  Their  government  consists  of 
a  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial  department.  The  legislative  power 
is  vested  in  16  councilors,  8  of  whom  were  elected  on  the  Allegany  Res- 
ervation, and  8  of  the  Cattaraugus;  10  members  of  this  council  consti- 
tute a  quorum.  The  executive  power  is  vested  in  a  president,  and  he 
presides  over  the  deliberations  of  the  council,  and  only  votes  when  his 
vote  is  necessary  to  break  a  tie.  The  judicial  power  is  vested  in  a  court 
known  as  the  peacemakers  court.  Peacemakers  court  is  composed  of  3 
members  from  each  reservation;  their  term  of  office  is  three  years. 
Under  the  constitution,  they  are  a  court  of  general  jurisdiction  as  to  all 
controversies  between  Indians.  They  have  jurisdiction  in  divorces 
between  Indians  residing  on  the  reservations,  and  they  have  power  to 
decide  all  questions  arising  between  individual  Indians  on  the  reserva- 
tions, including  all  personal  controversies  and  those  involving  the  title 
to  or  possession  of  real  estate. 

Under  their  constitution,  the  council  has  power  to  lease  lands  for 
agricultural  purposes,  and  they  have  so  leased  for  many  years.  Under 
an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1875,  there  was  a  series  of  towns  or  villages 
incorporated  on  these  reservations,  and  the  council  was  given  authority 
to  lease  lots,  and  it  is  in  these  villages  that  the  controversies  have 
arisen  over  the  rentals.    I  will  give  you  approximately  the  number  of 


is 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


acres  in  the  villages;  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  the  number  of  lots: 
The  village  of  Vandalia  contains  about  240  acres;  Carrollton,  about 
2,200;  Great  Valley,  about  260;  Salamanca,  about  2,000;  West  Sala- 
manca, abont  750,  and  Ked  House,  a  small  strip  of  land,  about  40  acres. 
Prior  to  1892  these  laude  were  leased  on  twelve-year  leases,  and  the 
income  from  them  was  about  $11,000  to  $13,000,  varying  during  the 
years  that  I  examined  the  records,  from  1881  down  to  1802. 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature  in  1892,  this  council  was  authorized 
to  make  ninety-nine  year  leases  of  this  property.  At  this  time  it  was 
estimated  that  the  approximate  value  of  the  lots  and  improvements  in 
each  of  the  villages  was  as  follows:  Vandalia,  the  improvements  were 
valued  at  $8,000,  lots  $6,000;  Carrollton,  improvements  $30,000,  lots 
$25,000 ;  Great  Valley,  improvements  $20,000,  lots  $20,000 ;  Salamanca, 
improvements  were  valued  at  $1,200,000  and  lots  at  $300,000;  West 
Salamanca,  improvements  $50,000,  lots  $50,000;  Red  House,  improve- 
ments $10,000,  lots  $8,000.  Notwithstanding  the  largely  increased  value 
of  the  improvements  on  this  reservation,  in  1892  the  rentals  were 
reduced  from  in  the  neighborhood  of  $12,000  to  about  $6,000,  and  the 
collection  of  rentals  from  that  time  down  to  the  present  has  varied 
from  $5,000  to  $7,000.  According  to  the  books  of  the  clerk  at  this 
time,  the  income  for  1897  was  $7,416.44,  including  oil  leases,  farm  leases, 
and  everything.  The  value  of  the  railroad  improvements  on  the  reser- 
vation is  very  large,  aggregating  at  least  a  million  and  a  half  dollars. 

I  find  in  the  report  of  the  agent  made  to  your  Department  August 
12,  1897,  the  following  : 

I  have  reason  to  believe,  from  well-directed  inquiries  made  by  me,  that  the  funds 
of  the  nation  are  improvidently  expended.  After  diligent  inquiry  I  am  satisfied 
that  the  funds  of  this  nation  are  absorbed  to  a  large  extent  by  the  officers  of  the 
nation,  and  that  the  officers  have  been  known  to  collude  with  white  men  to  discount 
the  orders  issued,  for  the  payee  named  in  the  order,  when  the  treasurer  has  the 
funds  to  pay  the  same  in  full.  Quite  a  large  sum  is  expended  each  year  to  the  coun- 
cilors, who  procure  meetings  of  the  council  unnecessarily,  without  any  business  to 
transact  of  any  consequence.  The  officers  and  councilors  also  perpetuate  them- 
selves in  office  by  corruptly  using  the  funds  of  the  nation  among  the  ignorant  and 
illiterate  Indians,  purchasing  votes,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  honest 
Indian  to  get  rid  of  the  corrupt  dynasty  which  has  conducted  the  affairs  of  the 
nation  for  many  years. 

After  carefully  investigating  the  books  of  the  clerk  of  the  nation,  I 
am  inclined  to  corroborate  the  report  of  the  agent,  and  in  this  connec- 
tion desire  to  call  your  attention  to  a  report  of  the  Seneca  Nation  made 
by  its  officers  and  attached  to  a  memorial  which  they  have  filed  with 
the  House  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  within  the  present  month.  In 
their  report  from  June,  1891,  to  June,  1892,  they  say  that  they  paid 
officers  $6,114.44  out  of  the  total  income  of  $16,000;  that  they  paid 
board  bills  for  said  officers,  $2,337.35;  and  for  miscellaneous  accounts 
allowed  $2,859;  and  for  contingent  incidental  expenses  of  the  execu- 
tive officers,  $323;  making  a  total  of  $11,033,  that  I  think  one  can  fairly 
infer  was  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  officers  and  council.  The  same 
report  for  1892  to  1893  shows  that  they  paid  officers  $2,363.15:  board 
bills,  $1,374.04;  paid  renewed  orders,  $1,482.70;  and  paid  miscellaneous 
accounts,  $1,281.55.  This  scheme  of  paying  renewed  orders  is  alleged 
to  be  one  of  the  plans  of  the  officers  to  defraud  the  nation.  I  have 
been  absolutely  unable  to  find  any  reason  for  any  such  entries,  or  for 
the  payment  of  any  moneys  on  renewed  orders. 

The  total  amount  reported  for  this  period,  1892  to  1893,  was  $8,710.75, 
of  which  $6,500  seems  to  have  gone  for  the  benefit  of  the  council  and 
executive  officers.  From  1893  to  1894  they  report  $2,847,  out  of  which 
the  officers  received  $804  salaries;  and  there  was  board,  $677;  and  mis- 
cellaneous accounts  allowed,  mostly  to  the  officers,  $496.    In  other 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


17 


words,  $1,977  seems  to  have  been  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  officers. 
From  1894  to  1895  this  report  shows  that  the  president  and  officers 
received  as  salaries  $1,807.75;  that  their  board  was  paid  to  the  amount 
of  $658.10;  miscellaneous,  $1,120.87;  in  other  words,  $3,645  seems  to 
have  been  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  officers,  out  of  the  total  of  $4,284. 
From  1895  to  1896  the  total  amount  received  was  $5,321;  the  officers 
were  paid  $1,847  salaries;  board  was  paid  to  the  amount  of  $1,092; 
and  miscellaneous  accounts,  $880;  in  other  words,  $3,819  out  of  $5,321 
seems  to  have  been  been  absorbed  by  the  officers.  From  1896  to  1897 
the  total  amount  collected  was  $8,398.  This  year  they  paid  the  officers 
$1,016;  paid  board  for  them,  $1,055;  paid  miscellaneous  accounts,  which 
are  entirely  unitemized,  $4,783;  so  that  there  was  absorbed  in  the  three 
items — salary,  board,  and  miscellaneous — $6,854  out  of  $8,398.31. 

It  is  a  fact  that  I  do  not  think  they  will  dispute  that  the  body  of  the 
people  have  not  received  from  its  officers  a  single  dollar  of  income  from 
these  leases  during  the  last  four  or  five  years. 

I  desire  in  this  connection  to  incorporate  a  few  of  the  memorandums 
as  I  have  taken  them  from  the  record.  These  are  exactly  as  they  appear 
on  the  records  of  the  tribe,  and  are  records  made  of  the  council  of  April 
24,  1897,  and  later: 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  that  committee  on  settlement  of  accounts 
with  P.  T.  Jamerson,  jr.,  treas.,  make  report  in  council.  Carried. 

Howard  Doxtater  made  a  following  report :  Receipts,  commencing  June  6th,  1896, 
$4,521.46;  disbursements,  $4,098.02;  bal.  on  hand,  $423.44.  Same  moved  and  sec- 
onded that  the  report  of  said  com.  is  hereby  approved.  Carried. 

Frank  Seneca  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $25  each  to  the  president  and 
clerk  for  expenses;  total,  $50.  Carried. 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $150  for  extra  services  for 
T.  F.  Jemerson,  treas.  Carried. 

Roll  called,  and  appropriated  $150. 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  we  instruct  the  clerk  to  make  a  statement  of 
the  expenses  of  two  councils.  Carried. 
The  clerk,  F.  T.  Jemerson,  reported  in  council  the  expenses  $944.94. 
Patterson  moved,  and  was  seconded,  we  appropriate  the  sum  of  $944.94.  Carried. 
Roll  call,  and  appropriated. 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $300  to  be  distributed 
among  the  Seneca  Nation. 
Roll  called,  and  appropriated. 
Adj'd. 

Council,  M ay  6th,  '97. 

President  stated  object  of  calling  council  was  to  appropriate  money  to  H.  Half- 
town  and  C.  C.  Lay  for  taking  census,  and  to  make  appropriation  to  councilors  for 
services  on  examination  of  oil  leases. 

Eli  Jemerson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $50  to  pay  C.  C.  Lay  and  Harri- 
son Halftown  $25  each.  Carried. 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $255  to  the  14  councilors, 
president,  and  2  clerks  for  services  at  ex.  oil  leases.  Carried. 

Jesse  Jimerson  moved  and  seconded  we  reconsider  in  regard  to  money  appropri- 
ated by  council  to  go  to  the  people,  known  as  oil  money.  Carried. 

By  Thos.  Silverheels : 

Resolved,  That  F.  T.  Jemerson,  jr.,  treas.,  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  instructed  to 
pay  all  orders  belongs  to  tbe  councillors  and  executive  officers  out  of  said  funds. 

Frank  Patterson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  the  sum  of  $100  apiece  to 
W.  C.  Hoag  and  A.  L.  Jemerson  for  extra  services.  Carried. 

Casler  Redeye  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $20  to  pay  Frank  Seneca  and 
Thomas  Silverheels.    Com.  appointed  by  council  to  look  after  same. 

Wm.  Jemerson  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  sufficient  sum  to  pay  the  Atty., 
M.  T.  Jenkins,  services  for  Seneca  Nation,  $50.  Carried. 

Casler  Redeye  moved  and  seconded  we  appropriate  $16  to  Robt.  White  for  board 
bill.  Carried. 

The  clerk  states  that  the  expenses  during  this  council,  $633.16. 
Roll  called  and  appropriated  $633.16. 

F.  T.  Jimerson,  Pres. 

S.  Doc.  190  2  King  Tallchief,  Clk. 

W.  C.  Ho ag,  Treas. 


18 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


New  council  organized  June  1st,  1897: 

President,  T.  F.  Jemerson;  clerk,  King  Tallchief;  treasurer,  William  C.  Hoag. 

Councillors. — Cattaraugus:  Thos.  Silverheels,  Frank  Seneca,  Frank  Patterson, 
Francis  Lay,  George Toinma,  Jesse  Jiinerson,  Young M.  Lay,  Eli  Jimerson.  Allegany: 

Sackett  Redeye,  Phillips,  A.  L.  Jimerson,  Robt.  White,  Chas.  Logan,  Edmond 

Bowen,  Fred  Abrams,  Casler  Redeye. 

Ou  June  5th,  1897.  held  another  session  and. appropriated  $616  to  council,  $25  each 
to  Jemerson,  Tallchief,  and  Hoag  for  incidental  expenses,  and  $10  each  as  salary. 

Last  session,  Sept.  4th,  adj'd  until  9  a.  m.  next  morning.    No  further  record. 

The  extracts  from  the  record  of  the  council  above  given  therefore 
show  that  between  April  24  and  June  5,  1897,  the  council  of  the 
Seneca  Nation  absolutely  voted  to  themselves  and  the  executive 
officers  $3,150  of  the  people's  money,  and  there  is  nothing  on  file  or  of 
record  to  show  either  services  rendered,  valuable  or  otherwise,  and  no 
pretense  of  a  voucher.  I  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  in 
every  instance  save  two,  where  money  was  appropriated,  it  was  to  a 
member  of  the  council,  even  for  board  and  taking  the  census. 

I  also  wish  to  state  that  the  taking  of  the  census  was  paid  for  by  the 
United  States,  and  refer  you  to  the  first  quarterly  statement  of  Agent 
Jewell  for  1898.  Indeed,  the  principal  business  of  these  sessions  seems 
to  be  to  appropriate  money  to  the  council  or  the  executive  ollicers. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  complaint  among  the  people  as  to  the  peace- 
makers' court,  and  the  general  opinion  seems  to  be  that  they  are 
impractical  and  arbitrary,  and  rule  without  justice  or  form  of  law.  It 
seems  to  me  that  in  controversies  between  Indians  the  Indian  is  prac- 
tically without  remedy  at  law.  The  peacemakers  are  men  unlearned  in 
the  law,  and  are  entirely  without  the  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  prac- 
tice in  any  court.  They  have  not  the  least  notion  whatever  of  equity, 
and  no  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  evidence.  It  is  openly  charged  that 
they  are  mercenary,  and  arbitrarily  refuse  to  issue  process  or  entertain 
application  for  process  where  important  rights  are  involved,  and  there 
is  no  power  to  compel  them  to  act,  and  no  appeal  from  their  action 
except  to  the  council,  composed  of  the  same  class  of  men,  of  which 
they  are  the  most  influential  members.  The  powers  of  this  peacemak- 
ers' court  should  be  diminished,  and  the  right  of  appeal  to  the  courts 
of  the  State  of  New  York  should  be  given.  To  this  end  a  petition  has 
been  circulated  among  the  Indians,  and  signed  by  a  large  number,  ask- 
ing the  legislature  for  relief;  but  the  council  and  executive  force  are 
using  and  will  continue  to  use  all  their  influence  against  any  modifica- 
tion of  the  law  that  will  result  in  a  loss  ot  power  to  them,  and  they 
frighten  and  coerce  the  ignorant  by  telling  them  it  is  a  Government 
scheme  to  make  them  take  lands  in  allotment  and  become  citizens,  the 
old  bugaboo  that  is  used  with  all  classes  of  Indians  everywhere,  and 
for  all  purposes.  If  possible  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York 
should  be  induced  to  amend  this  law. 

My  conclusion  is  that  the  affairs  of  this  nation  are  very  loosely  and 
irregularly  managed;  that  the  officers  use  the  power  of  the  place  for 
the  purpose  of  perpetuating  themselves,  and  it  is  openly  charged  here 
that  the  money  of  the  nation  is  used  for  the  same  purpose.  I  do  not  pre- 
tend to  say  that  this  is  true,  but  certain  it  is  that  the  same  lot  of  gentle- 
men have  been  in  power  for  many  years,  and  it  looks  very  much  like  a 
political  ring,  with  the  power  of  perpetuation.  I  think  the  great  wrong 
was  done  the  people  of  this  nation  at  the  time  the  ninety-nine-year 
leases  were  consummated.  The  idea  of  5,490  acres  of  the  reservation 
lands  of  these  people  being  given  up  to  village  purposes,  laid  out  in 
lots,  and  occupied  by  at  least  six  or  seven  thousand  people,  and  only 
an  income  of  about  $000  a  year  from  it,  seems  monstrous  to  me.    I  do 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


19 


not  know  what  the  remedy  is,  or  that  anything  can  be  done  by  your 
Department  to  correct  the  evils  done  in  making  these  leases,  but  I 
think  you  can  arrange  to  have  the  people  get  a  little  of  the  beggarly 
income  that  is  produced  by  these  leases. 

The  responsibility  for  the  existing  condition  of  affairs  on  these  reser- 
vations and  among  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  is  very  largely  with 
and  upon  the  president,  treasurer,  and  clerk,  who  are  denominated  the 
executive  officers.  Of  this  trio,  I  think  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Hoag,  is 
the  dominant  character  and  the  power  that  organizes  the  political 
forces.  He  has  been  president  or  treasurer  most  of  the  time  for  five  or 
six  years,  and  I  think  it  is  plain  that  it  is  his  management  that  has 
brought  about  the  conditions  that  exist  here.  He  has  kept  his  books 
neatly,  and  takes  pride  in  showing  them  and  assuring  everyone 
that  not  a  dollar  has  been  paid  out  except  upon  the  order  of  the 
council.  I  presume  this  is  so,  but  when  you  recur  to  the  figures  and 
note  that  more  than  one-half  of  all  the  funds  received  have,  by  this 
same  council,  been  voted  either  to  themselves  or  to  the  executive  offi- 
cers I  am  not  surprised  that  the  Indian  people  complain. 

When  some  poor  Indian  takes  up  this  same  report  for  the  twelve 
months  between  June,  1891,  and  June,  1892,  and  notes  that  $6,144.44 
was  paid  for  salaries,  and  only  $1,117  devoted  to  the  poor  people,  I  do 
rot  wonder  that  he  groans  at  the  weight  of  his  burden.  When  he 
notes  that  $2,337.35  was  paid  for  the  board  of  this  council  in  the  same 
year,  and  only  $502  devoted  to  the  highways  of  all  the  reservations, 
I.  am  not  surprised  that  he  calls  for  relief. 

The  proportion  of  money  used  by  the  executive  officers  and  the  coun- 
cil for  themselves  is  about  the  same  all  through  the  years  1891,  1892, 
1893,  1894,  1895,  1896,  and  1897,  and  I  did  not  find  from  examination, 
or  learn  from  many  inquiries,  that  any  of  this  fund  had  ever  been  paid 
out  to  or  divided  among  the  people.  Early  in  1897  $300  was  appro- 
priated for  this  purpose,  but  within  a  few  days  this  action  was  rescinded, 
and  the  money  was  appropriated  to  the  officers,  as  you  will  see  by  the 
quotations  from  the  record  which  are  incorporated  herein. 

My  investigation  here  has  been  confined  for  the  most  part  to  an 
examination  of  the  records  and  discussing  matters  with  the  officers  of 
the  council.  I  have  also  been  visited  by  a  few  members  of  the  nation 
who  represent  the  faction  opposed  to  the  council.  While  I  have  given 
the  facts  gleaned  from  the  records  of  the  past  year,  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
understood  as  saying  that  they  are  worse,  or  that  the  business  has  been 
conducted  more  loosely  under  their  management  than  in  the  past.  The 
affairs  are  now  conducted  practically  as  they  have  been  for  many  years 
past. 

With  the  limited  means  at  my  disposal,  and  the  time  I  am  expected 
to  do  this  work,  it  has  been  impossible  to  go  into  details. 

In  order  to  check  up  the  leases  with  the  cash  accounts  it  would  be 
necessary  to  abstract  the  records  of  leases  contained  in  eight  large 
volumes.  This  would  take  months  of  time.  In  this  regard  I  can  only 
say  that  the  treasurer  claims  they  have  1,412  outstanding  live  and 
effective  leases.  His  cashbook  shows  that  he  collected  rentals  on  less 
than  1,200  leases.  There  are  grave  charges  in  regard  to  this  very 
matter. 

It  is  my  judgment  that  the  affairs  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians 
should  have  a  thorough  investigation.  I  believe  it  to  be  for  the  material 
and  best  interests  of  all  the  people  of  this  nation  that  it  be  done.  In 
justice  to  all  who  have  been  connected  with  the  control  of  its  affairs, 
as  well  as  the  poor  and  ignorant  who  have  suffered,  as  they  believe, 


20 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


through  misappropriation  of  funds,  this  investigation  should  be  made 
thorough  and  complete. 

I  attach  to  this  report  certain  data  and  facts  showing  the  number  of 
leases,  etc.;  also  showing  the  manner  of  describing  property,  with 
observations  on  the  official  report,  and  also  the  report  of  the  executive 
officers,  and  affidavits,  etc. 

G.  B.  Pray, 
Special  United  States  Indian  Agent 


The  whole  number  of  leases  recorded   3;  m 

The  number  of  libers  occupied   8 

The  number  of  pages  in  each  liber   600 

The  whole  number  of  leases  prior  to  1892   2,  031 

The  term  of  said  leases  prior  to  1892,  act  of  Congress  1875  years..  11£ 

The  number  of  leases  renewed  in  1*92  and  since.   1,  080 

The  term  of  said  leases,  under  act  of  1875  and  1890  years..  99 

Average  amount  of  rental  per  lease,  prior  to  1892  $10.  75 

Average  amount  of  rental  since  1892   $5.  00 

The  character  of  the  descriptions  in  leases  is  very  hard  to  determine  from  as 
to  the  number  of  acres  contained,  as  the  description  is  given  by  very  indefinite 
metes  and  bounds,  of  which  the  following  are  samples : 

Commencing  at  a  point  in  the  road  running  from  Salamanca  to  Cold  Spring,  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  land  leased  to  R.  Fellows;  thence  westerly  along  said  highway 
330  feet;  thence  north  218  feet;  thence  east  330;  thence  south  218  feet  to  the  place 
of  beginning.    Amount  rental,  $4.50.    Seneca  Nation  to  C.  S.  Hubbell. 

Fourteen  leases  to  C.  S.  and  Emeline  Hubbell,  aggregate  rental  only  $48  per  annum. 

Beginning  at  a  point  in  center  of  West  River  street  at  southwest  corner  of  lands 
owned  by  James  Quigley;  thence  westerly  along  the  center  of  West  River  street, 
45  feet  to  lands  owned  formerly  by  Sylvester  Sherwood;  thence  northerly  along  said 
Sherwood's  east  line  to  lands  owned  formerly  by  D.  M.  Cloud;  thence  easterly  to  said 
Quigley's  northwest  corner ;  thence  southerly  along  said  Quigley's  west  line  125$  feet 
to  the  center  of  said  West  River  street  to  place  of  beginning.  John  Hoag,  $3  per 
annum. 

Leases  run  from  50  cents  to  30  cents  per  annum;  average  about  $5  on  the  1,080 
ninety-nine-year  leases. 

The  whole  number  of  leases  prior  to  1892  was  2,031.  The  income  therefrom, 
between  1880  and  1885  was  from  $10,000  to  $11,000  per  annum. 

According  to  the  books  of  the  nation  there  are  now  1,412  ninety-nine-year  leases 
in  force.  In  1895  the  clerk  collected  rentals  on  only  1,036  leases;  in  1896  the  clerk 
collected  rentals  on  only  1,180  leases;  in  1897  the  clerk  collected  on  about  the  same 
number  as  in  1896,  and  yet  the  amount  of  total  receipts  for  these  years  vary  widely, 
and  unaccountably  to  me.  For  instance,  receipts  for  period  from  1894  to  1895  are 
put  down  at  $5,522.24;  1895  to  1896,  at  $6,850.15;  1896  to  1897,  at  $10,448.21. 

This  according  to  the  attached  report,  and  yet  the  figures  given  me  at  the  office 
were  but  $7,416.40.  I  do  not  know  which  is  right,  and,  so  far  as  the  people  of  the 
Seneca  Nation  are  concerned,  it  is  immaterial;  they  get  none  of  it  anyway. 

In  connection  with  the  attached  report,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  another 
peculiar  circumstance.  In  the  period  from  June  1,  1891,  to  1892,  the  table  of  dis- 
bursements shows  $16,653.55  disbursed.  In  the  totals  given  just  below  the  receipts 
are  put  down  as  $11,411.47;  disbursements  $11,413.43,  making  a  difference  in  the 
amount  of  disbursements  on  same  sheet  for  same  period  of  $5,240. 

In  period  from  1892  to  1893  the  disbursements  are  put  down  in  the  table  at  $8,710.75. 
Just  below  the  table  says : 

Receipts  $7,873.52 

Disbursements   7,  875. 17 

In  period  from  1893  to  1894,  disbursements  per  table,  $2,847.50.  Just  below 
totals  say : 

Receipts   $6,459.98 

Disbursements   6, 466. 97 

In  period  from  June,  1894,  to  June,  1895,  table  of  disbursements  says  $4,284.07. 

Total  receipts   $5,  522. 34 

Disbursements   5, 520. 88 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS.  21 

In  period  from  1895  to  1896  table  to  disbursements  says  $5,321,30. 

Total  receipts   $6, 850. 15 

Total  disbursements   6,  841.  60 

In  period  from  June,  1896,  to  June,  1897,  table  of  disbursements  shows  $8,398.13. 

Total  receipts   $10,  443. 21 

Total  disbursements   10, 082. 61 


Executive  Department, 

Seneca  Nation  of  Indians, 

Allegany  Reservation. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents: 

That  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  in  council  assembled,  have  duly  made  and 
appointed  T.  F.  Jamerson,  W.  C.  Hoag,  Frank  Patterson,  King  Tallchief,  and  Frank 
Seneca  to  be  our  delegates  to  go  to  Washington,  D.  C,  on  business  for  the  said  Seneca 
Nation  of  Indians,  and  especially  to  remonstrate  against  the  passage  by  Congress  of 
the  proposed  bill  introduced  by  Hon.  Charles  W.  Stone,  H.  R.  5427,  "a  bill  to  regu- 
late the  collection  and  disbursement  of  moneys  from  leases  made  by  the  Seneca 
Nation  of  New  York  Indians  and  for  other  purposes."  We  give  them  full  power  and 
authority  in  the  matter,  with  full  confidence  in  them,  to  represent  us  and  make 
known  our  wishes. 

The  foregoing  was  duly  adopted  in  open  council  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  Seneca 
Nation  council,  assembled  at  Shongo  council  house  on  the  Allegany  Reservation,  this 
8th  day  of  January,  1898. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  these  presents  to  be  signed  by  our  president 
and  attested  by  our  clerk,  and  have  caused  the  great  seal  of  our  nation  to  be  here- 
unto attached  the  day  last  above  named. 

[seal.]  T.  F.  Jamerson, 

President  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians. 

Attested : 

King  Tallchief, 

Chief  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians, 


To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled: 

We,  the  undersigned,  delegates  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  would  respect- 
fully memorialize  your  honorable  body  against  H.  R.  5427,  a  bill  introduced  by  Hon. 
Charles  W.  Stone,  of  Pennsylvania. 

A  BILL. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America 
in  Congress  assembled,  That  all  moneys  which  shall  belong  to  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
New  York  Indians  arising  from  rents  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Congress 
entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  lease  lands 
within  the  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations,  and  to  confirm  existing  leases," 
approved  February  nineteenth,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-five,  and  September 
thirtieth,  eighteen  hundred  and.  ninety,  respectively,  together  with  all  moneys  which 
shall  belong  to  said  Seneca  Nation  arising  from  the  lease  of  the  oil  springs,  the  Cat- 
taraugus and  Allegany  reservations,  for  the  purpose  of  boring  and  testing  said  terri- 
tory for  gas  and  oil,  as  ratified  and.  confirmed  by  an  act  of  Congress  entitled  "An 
act  making  appropriations  for  the  current  and  contingent  expenses  of  the  Indian 
Department  and  for  fulfilling  treaty  stipulations  with  various  Indian  tribes  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  thirtieth,  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-eight,  and  for  other 
purposes,"  approved  the  seventh  day  of  June,  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-seven, 
shall  be  paid  to  and  recoverable  by  the  United  States  Indian  agent  for  the  New 
York  Indian  agency  for  and  in  the  name  of  the  said  Seneca  Nation. 

Sec.  2.  That  from  the  moneys  so  received  from  said  leases  the  said  agent  shall 
annually,  on  the  first  Wednesday  after  the  first  Tuesday  in  June,  pay  over  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  the  sum  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
shall  distribute  the  balance  of  said  moneys,  after  deducting  all  necessary  charges 
and  expenses,  among  the  heads  of  families  of  said  Seneca  Nation  in  the  same  manner 


22 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


and  under  the  same  conditions  that  the  annuities  now  paid  to  the  said  Seneca  Nation 
by  the  United  States  are  distributed. 

Sec.  3.  That  the  said  agent  shall  give  bond  to  the  United  States  in  such  sum  as 
may  be  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  and  he  shall  make  an  annual  report 
to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  of  the  receipt  and  disbursement  of  all  moneys 
arising  from  said  leases,  and  he  shall  receive  annually,  as  additioaal  compensation, 
the  sum  of  five  per  centum  of  all  sums  so  received  and  disbursed  by  him. 

Sec.  4.  That  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  shall  annually,  on  the  last  Tues- 
day in  April,  make  a  written  report  to  the  United  States  Indian  agent  for  the  New 
York  Indian  Agency  of  all  disbursements  made  by  him  of  all  moneys  received  by 
him  as  treasurer  of  said  Seneca  Nation. 

Sec.  5.  That  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this  act  are  hereby  repealed. 

This  intended  legislation  caused  great  disturbance  among  the  people  of  the  Seneca 
Nation  of  Indians,  and  the  council  of  said  nation  took  immediate  consideration  on 
the  subject  and  took  steps  to  oppose  said  legislation  for  the  following  reasons: 

Your  memorialists  believe  such  act  of  legislation  on  the  part  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  is  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

First.  Now,  the  United  States  acknowledge  that  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians  is  a 
body  corporate,  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  subject 
to  the  control  of  the  legislature  of  that  State.  Any  needed  change  in  the  manner  of 
conducting  their  business  should  originate  with,  come  from,  and  be  under  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  legislature  of  that  State. 

As  bearing  upon  that  question,  and  in  proof  thereof,  see  chapter  150,  laws  of 
New  York,  year  1845;  chapter  378,  laws  of  New  York,  year,  1849;  section  44,  chapter 
679,  laws  of  New  York,  year  1892;  section  44,  chapter  229,  laws  of  New  York,  year 
1893. 

Second.  The  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  which  has  control  of  the  busi- 
ness conduct  of  the  affairs  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  should  continue 
to  have  supervision  of  such  affairs,  as  it  always  has  thrown  every  safeguard  around 
the  finances  of  the  nation  and  protected  the  interests  of  the  individuals  composing 
the  Seneca  Nation,  by  providing  that  the  treasurer  of  the  nation  should  give  bonds 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  which  the  treasurer  has  done  by  giving 
ample  security  with  responsible  white  men  as  sureties,  as  required  by  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  and  by  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  The  proposed  act  of  Congress  would  be  the  taking  away  of  the  powers  always 
delegated  to  and  assumed  by  the  State  legislature  over  such  legislation.  (See  con- 
stitution of  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  year  1893,  chapter  378,  laws  of  New 
York,  year  1894.) 

Third.  The  proposed  bill,  besides  being  a  violation  of  the  rights  and  duties  of  the 
legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  is  unnecessary,  and  imposes  a  burden  on  the 
Seneca  Nation  by  providing  for  the  tax  of  5  per  cent  on  all  moneys  belonging  to 
the  Seneca  Nation  received  and  paid  out  by  the  Indian  agent,  as  well  as  all  necessary 
charges  and  expenses  on  account  thereof,  and  which  tax  would  be  a  direct  loss  to  the 
members  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  and  would  go  to  the  benefit  alone  of  the  Indian 
agent. 

And  your  memorialist  calls  the  attention  of  your  honorable  body  to  the  annexed 
financial  statement  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  and  the  report  of  H.  S.  Mer- 
rill, county  clerk  of  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  made  to  J.  R.  Jewell,  United  States 
Indian  agent. 

Therefore  your  memorialist  respectfully  and  earnestly  prays  before  your  honora- 
ble body  that  no  such  legislation  be  enacted  as  proposed  by  Hon.  Charles  W.  Stone, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

T.  F.  Jamerson, 
W.  C.  Hoag, 
Frank  Patterson, 
King  Tallchief, 
Frank  Seneca, 
Seneca  Indian  Delegation. 


Financial  statement  of  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  1897. 

At  the  council  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians,  held  at  the  schoolhouse, 
on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  on  the  4th  day  of  December,  1897. 

Present,  Theodore  F.  Jamerson,  president;  King  Tallchief,  clerk;  Thomas  Silver- 
heel,  Frank  Patterson,  Frank  Seneca,  Jesse  Jimeson,  Eli  Jimeson,  Francis  Lay, 
Young  M.  Lay,  George  Tomma,  councilors  of  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation;  Sackett 
Redeye,  Alfred  L.  Jimeson,  Willie  Phillip,  Casler  Redeye,  Robert  White,  Freddie 
Abrain,  Edmund  Bone,  Charles  S.  Logan,  councilors  of  the  Allegany  Reservation. 


SENECA  NATION  OF   NEW  YORK  INDIANS, 


Whereupon  Councilor  Alfred  L.  Jimeson  offered  the  following  preamble  and 
resolution : 

Whereas  it  is  the  sense  of  the  council  that  the  interests  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians  renders  it  necessary  to  be  fully  apprised  of  the  financial  condition  of  -  .  I 
nation:  Therefore,  it  is  hereby 

Resolved,  That  Theodore  Y".  Jamerson.  King  Tallchief.  Harrison  Halfrown.  and 
John  Snyder  be.  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed  a  committee  for  the  purp  >se  of  inak 
ing  a  full  and  complete  investigation  of  the  financial  affairs  of  said  Seneca  Nation 
and  report  the  same  to  this  council  with  all  convenient  speed." 

To  the  council  of  the  Seneca  Xaiion  of  Indians  : 

We,  the  undersigned,  duly  appointed  a  committee  by  and  for  the  purposes  speci- 
fied in  the  foregoing  annexed  resolution,  respectfully  report  as  iV.b  vrs  : 

That  we  have  made  a  full  and  complete  investigation  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the 
said  nation  from  June  1.  1891.  to  June  1,  1897,  and  the  following  is  the  result  of  such 
investigation : 

Total  number  of  leases  in  vol.  1.  341:  rents  amounting  to   ?1.   ~_  75 

Total  number  of  leases  in  vol.  2.  220:  rents  amounting  to   SI.  033.  25 

Total  number  of  leases  in  vol.  3.  252:  rents  amounting  to   SI.  402.  50 

Total  number  of  leases  in  vol.  4,  360;  rents  amounting  to   SI.  450.  00 

Total  number  of  leases  in  vol.  5.  239:  rents  amounting  to   81.  123.  b0 

Total  number  of  leases  recorded  in  the  lease  books  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 

New  York  Indians,  vols.  1.  4.  3.  4.  and  5   1, 412 


Total  amount  of  rents  accruing — 

From  above  leases   S~.  001.  40 

From  Buffalo.  Rochester  and  Pittsburg  Railroad  Company   200.00 

From  Oil  Spring  Farm  lease   1  .00 

From  other  sources   85.00 

Total  amount  of  revenue  each  year   7.  416.  4C 

Receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Seneca  Xation  of  Indians  f  rom  J-  ne.  2S91,  to  June.  IS 97. 

1891  TO  1892. 

Paid  officers,  under  the  administration  of  Thomas  Kennedy,  president. 

June  1, 1891.  to  June.  1892  .total  amount)  *.   >0. 114.  44 

For  school  trustees,  and  furnished  wood  for  schools  on  Cattaraugus  and 

Allegany  reservations   258.  15 

For  poor  masters  and  for  the  poor  of  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reserva- 
tions  1. 117.  00 

Board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  during  sessions  of  the  council   2.  337.  35 

For  highway  labor  on  both  reservations   502. 00 

For  attorne\  services  and  disbursements  in  suits   1.  421.  85 

For  agriculture,  churches,  and  public  building   665. 

For  renewed  orders   2^v2.  00 

For  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   2.  859.  49 

For  contingent  and  incidental  expenses  of  the  executive  officer   323.  77 

For  land  claims   762.  50 

Total  k   16.  K53.  55 

The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians,  under  the  administration  of  Thomas  Kennedy,  president. 

William  C.  Hoag.  Treasurer. 

Total  receipts   $11,411.47 

Total  disbursements   11.  413.  43 

Amount  due  the  treasurer   1.  96 

1892  TO  1893. 

Paid  officers  under  the  administration  of  Wallace  Halftown.  president. 

June  1. 1892.  to  June..  1893    $2.  363.  50 

Paid  board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  during  council  in  session   1.  374.  04 

Paid  school  trustees,  and  wood  for  the  schools  on" Cattaraugus  and  Alle- 
gany reservations   196.  00 

Paid  poor  master  and  for  the  poor  on  the  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reser- 
vations  '   471.00 


24 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


Paid  highway  labor  on  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations   $485. 90 

Paid  attorneys  and  disbursements  in  suits   806.  06 

Paid  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   1,  281. 55 

Paid  renewed  orders   1,482.70 

Paid  aid  church   25.00 

Paid  public  building   225.  00 

Total   8,  710.  75 

The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians,  under  the  administration  of  Wallace  Halftown,  president. 

Frank  Patterson,  Treasurer. 

Total  receipts   $7,  873. 52 

Total  disbursements   7,  875. 17 

Amount  due  the  treasurer   1. 65 

1893  TO  1894. 

Paid  officers  under  the  administration  of  Frank  Patterson,  president,  June, 

1893,  to  June  1,  1894    $804.  30 

Paid  board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  during  council  in  session.. .  677. 45 
Paid  school  trustees,  and  wood  for  the  schools  on  the  Cattaraugus  and 

Allegany  reservations   241.50 

Paid  highway  labor  on  the  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations   251.50 

Paid  poor  masters  and  for  the  poor,  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations  151. 00 

Paid  attorneys  and  disbursements   225.  00 

Paid  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   496.75 

Total   2,  847.  50 

The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians,  under  the  administration  of  Frank  Patterson,  president. 

W.  C.  Hoag,  Treasurer. 

Total  receipts   $6,  459.  98 

Total  disbursements   6, 466. 97 

Amount  due  the  treasurer   6. 99 

1894  TO  1895. 

Paid  officers  under  the  administration  of  William  C.  Hoag,  president,  June, 

1894,  to  June,  1895   1,867.75 

Paid  board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  during  council  in  session. ..  658. 10 
Paid  school  trustees  and  wood  for  the  schools,  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany 

reservations   117.  00 

Paid  poor  masters  and  for  the  poor,  Cattaraugus  and  Alleghany  reserva- 
tions   150.00 

Paid  highway  labor,  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations   370. 35 

Paid  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   1, 120.  87 

Total  \   4,284.07 

The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians,  under  the  administration  of  William  C.  Hoag,  president. 

Frank  Patterson,  Treasurer. 

Total  receipts   $5,522.34 

Total  disbursements   5.  520.  88 

Balance  on  hand   1. 46 

1895  TO  1896. 

Paid  officers  under  the  administration  of  Frank  Patterson,  June,  1895,  to 

June,  1896   $1,847.20 

Paid  board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  during  session  in  council.. .  1, 092. 60 

Paid  school  trustees  and  wood  for  the  schools,  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany 

reservations   127. 00 

Paid  poor  masters  for  the  poor,  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations. ..  443. 00 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS 


Paid  highway  labor.  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations   $464.50 

Paid  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   >.>•>. 

Paid  attomev  and  disbursements  in  suits   147.  f«j 

Paid  land  claim   20-00 

Paid  agriculture   ISO.  00 

Paid  for  churches  and  public  buildings   150. 00 

Total   5.  321.  30 


The  total  receipt?  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians  under  the  administration  of  Frank  Patterson,  president. 

W.  C.  HoaGj  Treasurer. 


Total  receipts.   -56.  550. 15 

Total  disbursements   6.  >41.  60 

Balance  on  hand   ^.55 

1596  TO  1S9T. 

Paid  officers  under  the  administration  of  William  C.  Hoae.  president.  June. 

I>9t3.  to  June.  1S97  7  .  SI.  016. 19 

Paid  board  bill  for  the  officers  and  the  people  in  council   1.  055. 15 

Paid  school  trustees  and  for  schools.  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reserva- 
tions ~    ."0 

Paid  for  the  poor  relief.  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations   389.00 

Paid  highway  labor.  Cattaraugus  and  Allegany   6.-"?.  13 

Paid  miscellaneous  accounts  allowed   4.  7*  16 

Paid  attorneys   50.00 

Paid  for  churches   105.  CO 

Paid  agriculture  society   175.  CO 


Total   8,  398. 13 

The  total  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians  under  the  administration  of  William  C.  He       ;  :e>:  lent. 

T.  F.  J  Treasurer. 

Total  receipts   810.  443.  21 

Total  disbursements   10.  C>2.  61 

Balance  on  hand   360.  60 

Of  ail  the  disbursements  from  June.  1591.  to  June,  lx  7.  Um  lotal  amount 
paid  on  orders  issued  prior  to  June.  15^1   3.  IS-; 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Dated  this  2Sth  day  of  December.  1*97. 

Theodore  F.  Jamersox, 
King  Tauxhtef. 
Haxerjbox  Halftowx. 
Joh>-  Snyder. 

Committee. 

Eeport  of  H.  S.  Merrill,  county  clerk  of  Cattaraugus  County.  N.  Y..  made  to  J.  R. 
Jewell.  United  States  Indian  agent,  concerning  the  number,  average  term,  rent 
reserved,  etc..  of  the  leases  granted  by  the  Sen  ;a  Nation  of  Indians  upon  the  Alle- 
gany Indian  Reservation  in  New  York  under  the  a  t  of  Congress  :  assrd  in  1*75. 
and  the  act  amendatory  thereof. 

First.  The  whole  number  of  leases  from  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indiana  to  different 
persons  which  have  been  recorded  in  this  office  is  3.111.  The  number  of  libers 
occupied  by  said  leases  is  *.    The  number  of  pages  in  each  liber  is  600. 

Second.  The  whole  number  of  leases  prior  to  1892  was  2,031.  The  average  term  of 
said  leases  was  for  twelve  years,  and  the  same  were  renewed  prior  to  1892  every 
twelve  years,  according  to  an  act  of  Congress  entitled  "An  act  to  authorize  the 
Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Iudians  to  lease  lands  within  the  Cattaraugus  and  Alle- 
gany reservations  and  to  confirm  existing  leases,"  approved  February  19.  1875. 

Third.  The  whole  number  of  leases  renewed  in  1*V-  which  ham  een  recorded  is 
1. '">•"'.  the  same  being  for  ninety-nine  years  under  two  acts  of  Congress  entitle  1  "An 
act  to  authorise  the  Seneca  Nation  of  New  York  Indians  to  lease  lands  within  the 
Cattaraugus  and  Allegany  reservations  and  to  confirm  existing  leases. "one  approved 
February,  1S75.  and  the  other  approved  September  30, 1890. 


26 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


Fourth.  Prior  to  1880  a  greater  portion  of  the  lands  in  question  were  leased  in  large 
tracts,  and  afterwards  divided  up  into  smaller  parcels,  being  village  lots,  etc. 

Fifth.  The  average  amount  of  rental  (as  stated  in  the  leases)  received  hy  the 
Indians  per  annum  prior  to  1892  was  $10  per  lease. 

Sixth.  The  average  amount  of  rental  per  annum  since  1892  due  the  Indians,  as 
recited  in  the  leases  recorded,  is  $5  per  lease. 

Seventh.  The  character  of  the  descriptions  is  such  in  nearly  all  of  the  leases 
that  it  will  be  impossible  to  determine  the  amount  of  land  contained  therein  without 
a  survey  of  the  same. 

Eighth.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  for  me  to  make  an  estimate  of  what  the  cost  would 
be  of  making  an  abstract  or  brief  of  all  leases  and  renewals,  showing  all  that  is 
required,  until  after  the  work  is  completed  and  I  know  the  amount  of  time  taken  in 
making  the  same;  but  I  would  estimate  that  the  probable  expense  would  be  from 
$600  to  $800. 

Ninth.  The  number  of  men  required  to  do  the  work  would  depend  largely  upon  the 
amount  of  time  given  to  complete  the  work.  The  class  of  men  would  necessarily  be 
those  familiar  with  office  work,  having  had  experience  with  running  typewriters,  etc. 

Dated  at  Little  Valley,  N.  Y.,  November  16,  1896. 

H.  S.  Merrill,  County  Clerk, 

J,  R.  Jewell,  Esq., 

Indian  Agent,  Olean,  N.  Y, 


State  of  New  York,  ss: 
C.  S.  York,  being  duly  sworn,  doth  depose  and  say: 

That  he  is  a  Seneca  Indian,  and  from  a  resolution  passed  in  council  to  pay  said 
Senecas  $2  per  capita,  purporting  to  be  that  much  money  on  hand  from  sales  of  crude 
oil  as  royalty  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation. 

The  said  C.  S.  York  further  deposes  and  says  on  or  about  the  26th  day  of  April, 
1897,  the  said  treasurer  began  paying  by  giving  checks  of  $1.40  made  payable  at 
North  Collins  Bank. 

Mr.  York  further  deposes  and  says  the  people  voted  the  deficiency  shall  be  paid 
over  to  the  United  States  Indian  agent  for  him  to  pay  the  Senecas  when  paying  their 
annuity  moneys,  etc.  The  said  agent  has  paid  the  said  Senecas  their  annuity  and 
not  the  deficiency,  and  so  it  stands  up  to  this  4th  day  of  January,  1898. 

Mr.  York  further  deposes  and  says  on  or  about  the  month  of  November,  1897,  at 
the  treasurer's  office  in  Salamanca,  N.  Y.,  did  receive  for  his  family  and  self  a  check 
of  $5.60,  which  is  equivalent  to  $1.40  for  each  individual  in  the  family,  made  payable 
at  one  of  the  banks  in  Salamanca,  N.  Y. 

C.  S.  York. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  this  5th  day  of  January,  1898. 

Harrison  B.  Christy, 
Notary  Public,  Erie  County,  N.  Y, 

(Registered  in  Washington). 

State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie,  Town  of  Brant,  ss: 

On  this  5th  day  of  January,  in  the  year  1898,  before  me,  the  subscriber,  personally 
appeared  C.  S.  York,  to  me  personally  known  to  be  the  same  person  described  in  and 
who  executed  the  within  instrument,  and  he  acknowledged  that  he  executed  the 
same. 

Harrison  B.  Christy, 

Notary  Public,  Erie  County, 

(Registered  in  Washington.) 


State  of  New  York,  ss: 

Nathaniel  G.  Patterson,  within  named,  being  duly  sworn,  doth  depose  and 
say  that  he  is  a  Seneca  Indian.  On  the  26th  day  of  April,  1897,  I  drew  a  check 
of  $1.40  from  the  treasurer  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  oil 
money. 

Nathaniel  C.  Patterson. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  5th  day  of  January,  1898. 

Sarah  Wells,  Notary  Public 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YOKE  INDIANS. 


27 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie: 

Chancey  Green,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and 
a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  he  has  not  received  nor  was  offered 
any  of  the  oil  money  paid  by  the  Seneca  Oil  Company  to  said  Seneca  Nation  of 
Indians. 

Chancey  (my  x  mark)  Green. 

Witnesses  to  mark : 
Thomas  Kennedy. 
Ulyssus  T.  Kennedy. 

Sworn  before  me  this  5th  day  of  January,  1898. 

W.  H.  Willett, 
Notary  Public  for  Erie  County. 


State  op  New  York,  County  of  Erie: 

Newton  Kennedy,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian 
and  a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians ;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  on 

Tuesday,  May  ,  1895,  held  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  Frank  Patterson, 

who  was  a  candidate  for  president  on  that  ticket  for  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians, 
gave  to  the  deponent  some  lager  beer  to  drink;  also  promised  to  give  the  deponent 
$1,  but  gave  him  only  85  cents.  Deponent  further  says  that  after  voting  Frank  Pat- 
terson drove  the  team  to  Versailles  and  bought  box  of  cigars,  which  he  gave  the 
deponent  some  of  it;  also  a  drink  of  whisky,  which  Patterson  took  out  of  his  pocket, 
for  the  purpose  of  influencing  his  vote  for  their  ticket. 

Newton  (his  x  mark)  Kennedy. 

Witness : 

Ulyssus  T.  Kennedy. 

County  of  Cattaraugus,  State  of  New  York,  88.: 
Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  this  10th  day  of  January,  1898. 
[seal.]  H.  J.  Merrill,  Notary  Publio. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie: 

Moses  Shongo,  being  duly  sworn,  doth  depose  and  say  that  he  is  a  Seneca 
Indian  and  a  voter  in  the  Seneca  Nation;  that  he  has  not  received  nor  was  offered 
the  oil  money  paid  by  the  Seneca  Oil  Company. 

Moses  Shongo. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  6th  day  of  January,  1898. 

H.  J.  Merrill,  Notary  Public. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie : 

James  King,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and  a  voter 
of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  held  on  the 
Cattaraugus  Reservation  on  May  5,  1896,  T.  F.  Jamison,  who  was  a  candidate  for 
treasurer  of  the  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  gave  to  the  deponent  one  bag  full  of 
meal  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  his  vote  at  said  election  of"  their  ticket. 

James  King. 

Sworn  to  before  me  January  17, 1898. 

Harrison  B.  Christy, 
Notary  Public,  Erie  County,  N.  Y. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie: 

Newton  Kennedy,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and  a 
voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  held  on 
the  Cattaraugus  Indian  Reservation  on  May  5, 1896,  T.  F.  Jamison,  who  was  a  candi- 
date for  treasurer  of  the  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  promised  to  the  deponent  $1 
for  the  purpose  of  influencing  his  vote  at  said  election  of  their  ticket.  On  July  2, 
1896,  the  candidate,  T.  F.  Jamison,  paid  to  the  deponent  $1,  as  promised  to  said 
deponent. 

Newton  (his  x  mark)  Kennedy. 

Sworn  to  before  me  January  19, 1898,  a  notary  public  for  the  county  of  Cattaraugus, 
State  of  New  York. 

[seal.]  H.  J.  Merrill,  Notary  Public. 


r*e,  11  59 


28 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Cattaraugus : 

Harley  A.  Blinkey,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and 
a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  held 
on  the  Allegany  Reservation,  and  on  Tuesday,  May  4,  1897,  Willie  Phillips,  who  wus 
a  candidate  for  councilor  of  the  said  nation,  gave  to  the  deponent  $3  to  defray  for 
his  conveyance  and  of  influencing  his  vote  for  his  ticket. 

Harley  A.  Blinkey. 

Sworn  before  me  this  20th  day  of  January,  1898. 

Thos.  Rosenberry,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Cattaraugus : 

Henry  Jackson,  1st,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian 
and  a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers 
on  Tuesday,  May  4,  1897,  held  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  Francis  Jimerson, 
who  was  a  candidate  for  president  of  the  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  gave  to  the 
deponent  $1  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  his  vote  for  his  ticket. 

Henry  Jackson.  - 

Sworn  before  me  this  21st  day  of  January,  1898. 

Thos.  Rosenberry,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Cattaraugus : 

Prescy  Nephew,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and  a 
voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians ;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  held  on 
the  Cattaraugus  Reservation  on  Tuesday,  May  4,  1897,  and  also  on  Monday,  May  3, 
1897,  one  of  the  parties  who  was  running  on  the  ticket  on  which  Francis  Jimerson 
was  a  candidate  for  president  of  the  said  Seneca  Nation  gave  to  this  deponent  hard 
cider  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  his  vote  at  said  election  for  their  ticket. 

Prescy  Nephew. 

Sworn  to  before  me  December  8,  1897. 

Charles  S.  Howland,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Cattaraugus : 

Amos  Snow,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and  a  voter 
of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  held  on  the 
Allegany  Reservation  on  Tuesday,  May  4,  1897,  W.  C.  Hoag,  who  was  a  caudidate 
for  treasurer  on  the  ticket  on  which  Francis  Jimerson  was  a  candidate  for  president 
of  the  said  Seneca  Nation,  gave  to  this  deponent  25  cents,  and  promised  for  more  in 
the  future,  for  the  purpose  to  influencing  his  vote  at  said  election  for  their  ticket. 

Amos  Snow. 

Sworn  to  before  me  December  10, 1897. 

Wilber  Congletus,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Cattaraugus: 

Healy  Jimerson,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian  and  a 
voter  of  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  held  on  the  Allegany 
Reservation  on  Tuesday,  May  5,  1896,  W.  C.  Hoag,  who  was  a  candidate  for  presi- 
dent of  the  said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  gave  to  the  deponent  bO  cents  for  the  pur- 
pose  of  influencing  his  vote  at  said  election  for  their  ticket. 

Healey  Jimerson. 

Sworn  before  me  this  13th  day  of  December,  1897. 

Thos.  Rosenberry,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


SENECA  NATION  OF  NEW  YORK  INDIANS. 


29 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie : 

Charlie  Tallchief;  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he"  is  an  Indian  and 
a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers  on 
Tuesday,  May  5,  1896,  held  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  King  Tallchief,  who 
was  a  runner  on  the  ticket  on  which  W.  C.  Hoag  was  a  candidate  for  president  of  the 
said  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians,  gave  to  the  deponent  $1  for  the  purpose  of  influencing 
his  vote  for  their  ticket. 

Chas.  Tallchief. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  31st  day  of  December,  1897. 

Edgar  A.  Shaw,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


State  of  New  York,  County  of  Erie : 

Jerome  Johnny  John,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that  he  is  an  Indian 
and  a  voter  of  the  Seneca  Nation  of  Indians;  that  at  an  annual  election  of  officers 
on  Tuesday,  May  5,  1896,  held  on  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation,  Kiug  Tallchief,  who 
was  a  runner  on  the  ticket  on  which  W.  C.  Hoag  was  a  caudidate  for  president  of 
the  said  Seneca  Natiou  of  Indians,  gave  to  the  deponent  $1  for  the  purpose  of 
influencing  his  vote  for  their  ticket. 

Jerome  Johnny  John. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  31st  day  of  December,  1897. 

Edgar  A.  Shaw,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


owl  qaC  2-4 


